Tom Malchow

Tom Malchow was a butterfly specialist who competed at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics, winning gold in the 2000 200 metre butterfly, and silver in that event in 1996. In June 2000 at Charlotte, North Carolina, Malchow set a world record of 1:55.18 for the 200 fly, the last world record set in that event before somebody named Michael Phelps took over the event, setting the next eight world records, and holding that record for almost 20 years (as of 2019).

Malchow was primarily a specialist in the longer butterfly and most of his international medals were won at that distance. He won three medals in the event at the World Championships, silver in 2001, and bronze medals in 1998 and 2003. At the Pan Pacific Championships, Malchow won the 200 fly in 1999 and 2002, and was second in 1997. He also won gold at the Pan Pacs in the 4x200 free relay in 1997, adding a silver in the event in 1999. In 1995 he won the 200 fly at the Universiade and was a silver medalist at the Pan American Games.

Malchow attended college at the University of Michigan and also swam for Club Wolverine. He later settled in the Pacific Northwest where he worked as an orthopaedic sales representative and distributor.