Chris Jacobs

Chris Jacobs was a freestyle sprinter who won two gold medals with US relay teams at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, adding a silver medal in the 100 metre freestyle. On the 4x100 freestyle and 4x100 medley relays, Jacobs was part of world record swims in the finals. He also won a gold medal at the 1987 Pan Pacific Championships in the 4x100 freestyle relay. Jacobs swam in college at the University of Texas.

But the path was never that easy for Jacobs to succeed in international swimming. He began using drugs and drinking alcohol when he was only 12-years-old. He started with marijuana, but then moved to cocaine, LSD, and downers. Shortly after arriving in Austin for college, he met with a cocaine dealer, and Jacobs tended bar at night to earn money for drugs. He went through rehab in Austin, but it was not successful, and at one time, Jacobs bought a gun, went into a closet, put the gun to his mouth, cocked the trigger, and threatened suicide.

His college coach, Eddie Reese, eventually learned of his habit, and called his parents. Jacobs’ father arrived the next day and took him home, where he placed in the Fair Oaks Hospital in Summitt, New Jersey, near their home, where Jacobs spent eight months in inpatient rehab. This time, it worked, and a sober Jacobs returned to Austin, where he returned to the swim team, continued in outpatient rehab, and eventually went on to win Olympic gold medals.