Tom Jager

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Tom Jager

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fullname = Thomas Michael Jager
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nationality = USA
strokes = freestyle
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birthdate = birth date and age|1964|10|6
birthplace = Collinsville, Illinois
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Thomas ("Tom") Michael Jager (born October 6, 1964) is a former freestyle swimmer from Collinsville, Illinois, who earned four medals, including two golds, in three Summer Olympics.

Tom is the youngest of a family of swimming siblings. While under a swimming scholarship at the University of Iowa, eldest sister Diane was an All-American swimmer. Brother Bill qualified for Nationals while in high school, then went on to earn a full swimming scholarship at the University of Illinois. All three siblings went on to work as swimming coaches during their lifetimes.

Jager ended his career at the 1996 Olympic Trials, where at the age of 31, he attempted to qualify for his fourth Olympic team. He was a leader in the world of swimming for post-graduates. He was the 1988 and 1992 Olympic team captain and the 1991 World Aquatics Championships team captain. Prior to the Barcelona Olympics, he faced off with legendary swimmer Mark Spitz who attempted to make a comeback. Jager beat Spitz with a time of 24.92 over Spitz's 26.70. Tom Jager won six state titles in Illinois at Collinsville High School, tied with fellow Olympian Ron Gora and Brian Alden for the most ever.

When he retired, he was the world record-holder in the 50m free, a record he set in a nationally-televised match race versus his career-long nemesis and friend Matt Biondi. At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Jager was second to Biondi in the 50m free. In 1992, Jager was third and Biondi was second in the Olympic sprint. He and Biondi were the first two Americans to win gold medals in three Olympiads; both did it in the 400m free relay (in 1984, Jager swam on the prelim squad and in 1988 and ‘92, he swam on the championship finals teams). In 1984 and ‘88, he won gold medals swimming in prelims of the 400m medley relay. He earned eleven U.S. National titles and five NCAA crowns.

In 2001 Jager was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Tom Jager is currently the Head Coach of the University of Idaho women's swim team. [http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=91500&SPID=10342&DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1088260&Q_SEASON=2007 Jager, Tom]

External links

* [http://www.ishof.org/01tjager.html Profile on ISHOF-site]