Jerry Heidenreich

The United States won all three relays at the 1972 Olympics, each with a new world record, and Jerry Heidenreich was a member of two of the winning teams. He also won three gold in the 4×100 metre freestyle (with Dave Edgar, Steve Genter, and the non-Olympian Frank Heckl), 4×200 metre freestyle (with Steve Genter and the non-Olympians Jim McConica and Frank Heckl), and 4×100 metre medley (with John Murphy, Brian Job, and the non-Olympian Frank Heckl) and one silver in 100 metres butterfly at the 1971 Pan American Games. Heidenreich attended Southern Methodist and won the NCAA 220 y freestyle in 1972. During his career he set six American and six World Records, all in relays.

Heidenreich was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1992. In later life he became a swimming instructor in the Dallas, Texas area. In the summer of 2001 he suffered a stroke and had difficulty recovering from it. Heidenreich later committed suicide.