Hayden Stoeckel

Hayden Stoeckel (born 10 August 1984) is an Australian backstroke swimmer.

Stoeckel is a member of the South Australian Norwood Swimming Club. [www.norwood.swimmingsa.org.au]

Stoeckel started his swimming with the Berri Swimming Club in South Australia.

At the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, Stoeckel was eliminated in the heats of the 50 m freestyle after coming 21st in a time of 26.38 s, failing to progress by 0.14 s. In the 100 m event, he missed out on the semifinals by 0.01 s, placing 17th in the heats in a time of 55.64 s. However, one of the swimmers ahead of him withdrew from the semifinals, so he competed and came last in 55.51 s. He was eliminated in the heats of the 200 m backstroke, finishing 24th in a time of 2 m 2.32 s. He competed in the heats of the 4 &times 100 m medley relay, posting the fastest backstroke leg in a time of 55.18 s, as Australia qualified fourth. He was dropped in favour of Matt Welsh in the final, which Australia won.

At the 2008 Australian Swimming Championships he qualified in the 100 m and the 200 m backstroke, placing second and first respectively to qualify for the Olympics in Beijing.

In the 100 m backstroke, Stoeckel won his heat and was seventh fastest going into the semifinals in a time of 53.93 s. He won the second final in a time of 52.97 s, setting an Olympic record to qualify fastest for the final. In the final, he came third in a time of 53.18 s, tieing for the bronze medal. Aaron Peirsol broke the world record in 52.54 s to defend his Olympic title.