About Dick Roth
Richard William Roth (September 26, 1947 – September 23, 2025) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and world record holder in two events - the long course 200 m and 400 m individual medley. == High school swimming == Roth set his first age group record in swimming at age 12. In high school he swam for Menlo-Atherton where he won eight Southern Pacific Athletic League High School Conference titles under Coach Robert K. Gaughran, a former swim team captain and water polo player at College of the Pacific (and younger brother of Roth's Hall of Fame Stanford swim coach Jim Gaughran). Roth also served as high school student body president and was on the baseball and water polo teams. While in high school he also swam for the Santa Clara Swim Club under Hall of Fame coach George Haines. Dick was also the older brother of swimmer Don Roth, who was US national champion. == 1964 Olympic Gold == In October 1964, Roth swam in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where he won the gold medal for his first-place finish in the men's 400-meter individual medley, setting a new world record of 4:45.4 in the event final. Roth came from behind in the last 50 meters, exciting the Tokyo crowd, and finishing only a few feet ahead of the second place finisher. Unbeknownst to the crowd Roth had suffered an attack of acute appendicitis the night before but refused surgery so he could compete and subsequently take the gold. == International competition == In March 1965 Roth was diagnosed with severe tendinitis in his arms and shoulders, likely brought on by the demanding mechanics of the individual medley.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.