In November of 2011, the great Ian Thorpe made his return to competitive swimming. Three years ago, however, on November 12th, 2008, Australian Geoff Huegill announced that he would return to competitive swimming after a two-year hiatus.
Huegill’s return to competitive swimming was hugely significant to his personal life, and in fact might be the only reason that he is alive. During his retirement, he lost control of his weight (to the tune of pushing 300 pounds), fell into depression, and as was revealed in a recent Australian news story, battled drug addiction.
Now fitter, Huegill comes off as one of the most personable, enthusiastic, and effervescent swimmers on the international circuit. He is now expecting his first child with wife Sara Hills. Though he doesn’t have nearly the career history as Thorpe (though Huegill was the 2000 Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 fly), at this point his chances of making the 2012 Olympic team appear better than Thorpe’s.
Birthdays
- Jason Lezak, 36 – Lezak is the oldest man on the United States National Team, and has 7 Olympic medals won over three events.
- Aya Terakawa, 27 – Terakawa is one of the top backstrokers in the world, the Japanese National Record holder, and the 9th-best 100 backstroker in history (59.13).
- Linley Frame, 40 – The Aussie Frame was the 1991 World Champion in the 100 breaststroke.
- Florent Manaudou, 21 – The younger brother of the famous Laure Manaudou, Florent is coming into his own as one of the top butterfliers in France.
- Alfred Hajos, would be 133 – The Hungarian Hajos was the first man to win a modern Olympic swimming medal. In 1896, he took gold in both the 100 and 1200 free (he didn’t compete in the 500 free, the other event).
- Malcolm Champion, would be 128 – The appropriately-named Champion was New Zealand’s first Olympic gold medalist when he won gold in the 4×200 free relay in 1912. There, he competed as part of a joint team referred to as Australasia.
