By Phillip Whitten
Dr. Ron Karnaugh, a five-time national champion and 1992 Olympian, has left his longtime coach, Richard Shoulberg, and headed west in search of a berth on the 2000 US Olympic team. Karnaugh, 33, is now training under coach Randy Reese at the Circle C Swim Club in Austin, Texas.
Karnaugh was favored to win a medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 when his father died during the Opening Ceremonies, shortly after Karnaugh had waved to him as the US team marched around the track. Several days later, despite his grief, Karnaugh competed in the 200 IM, made the finals, but finished sixth.
In January 1998, at 31, he became the oldest person ever to win a medal at the World Championships when he finished third in the 200 IM (2:01.89) in Perth, Australia.