Passages: U.S. Olympic Team Massage Therapist Brian Campbell Dies
USA Swimming announced in an Instagram post Monday evening that Dr. Brian Campbell, a massage therapist and chiropractor who worked with three Olympic swim teams, has passed away. Campbell was also the head massage therapist at UCLA, working with the swim and dive, gymnastics, golf, tennis and men’s basketball teams.
USA Swimming’s Instagram post said of Campbell, “He served American swimmers for decades on the pool decks of numerous Olympic Games and World Championships. We send our gratitude to Brian for his years of service to our sport, and our thoughts to the friends, family, and athletes who knew him.”
Established as one of the foremost experts in his field, Campbell was the head massage therapist for the U.S. Olympic teams at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics as well as several other international competitions. His impact was felt across the sport, with many of its biggest names weighing in to pay their respects.
Tributes left as comments on USA Swimming’s Instagram post came from accomplished Olympians such as Natalie Coughlin, Dara Torres, Ryan Murphy, Brendan Hansen, Kristy Kowal, Cullen Jones, Katie Hoff and Abbey Weitzeil.
Coughlin wrote, “Absolutely heartbroken by this news. Brian served on every team I was on. He was the kind, calm presence that I needed before every major race. The nicest human and I’m eternally grateful for what he did for me as well as the National Team as a whole. ❤️”
Michael Phelps, who won multiple gold medals at each of Campbell’s Games atop the American massage therapy staff, posted a message to his Instagram story, which concluded with: “thank you for being such a good human!”
Bob Bowman, the head men’s coach at the University of Texas and the primary mentor of accomplished swimmers such as Phelps and Leon Marchand, wrote his own post. Bowman said, “We will all miss your smile and positivity.”