Roy Saari

Roy Saari
Personal information
Full name Roy Allen Saari
National team United States
Born (1946-02-26)February 26, 1946
Buffalo, New York
Died December 30, 2008(2008-12-30) (aged 63)
Mammoth Lakes, California
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Freestyle
Club El Segundo Swim Club
College team University of Southern California

Roy Allen Saari (February 26, 1945 – December 30, 2008) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.

Saari represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He won a gold medal as a member of the first-place U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay, setting a new world record in the event final with teammates Steve Clark, Gary Ilman and Don Schollander (3:52.1). In individual competition, he earned a silver medal for finishing second in the 400-meter individual medley (4:47.1). He also advanced to the finals of the 400-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle, placing fourth and seventh, respectively.

He attended the University of Southern California, and swam for the USC Trojans swimming and diving team. He graduated from USC in 1967, and received his law degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1973. Saari later practiced law in Orange County, California.

His brother, Robert Saari, also competed at the 1964 Olympics in the water polo competition. One of Saari's world records included being the first person to break the 17-minute barrier in the 1,500-meter freestyle.

Saari died December 30, 2008 of heart failure; he was 63 years old.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Valerie J. Nelson, "Roy Saari, 63; USC swimming star won gold and silver in 1964 Olympics," Los Angeles Times (January 3, 2009). Retrieved October 6, 2012.


Records
Preceded by
John Konrads		 Men's 1,500-meter freestyle
world record-holder (long course)
August 17, 1963 – August 2, 1964 		Succeeded by
Murray Rose
Preceded by
Murray Rose		 Men's 1,500-meter freestyle
world record-holder (long course)
September 2, 1964 – August 15, 1965 		Succeeded by
Stephen Krause


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