Peter Vanderkaay Elected to University of Michigan Hall of Honor

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Olympic champion Peter Vanderkaay has been selected for the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.

Vanderkaay won two Olympic gold medals during his career. He was also a three-time world champion, five-time U.S. National Champion and 14-time Big Ten Champion, primarily in the distance and middle distance freestyle events.

He qualified for three Olympic Games during his career and was a three-time Big Ten Swimmer of the Year.

Vanderkaay was a captain for Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics, and won a bronze medal in the 400 freestyle. He also competed in the 2004 and 2008 summer Olympics, winning relay gold in the 800 free relay and an individual bronze medal in 200 freestyle in Beijing.

Vanderkaay’s first Olympic appearance was in 2004 in Athens, between his sophomore and junior seasons at Michigan. He earned a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle relay, the first of a plethora of medals.

“It’s really a dream come true, such a fantastic experience for me,” Peter Vanderkaay said on the U-M Conqu’ring Heroes podcast in October. “I went to each Game, I swam well, I walked away with a medal in each one, it was really a blessing to be able to have that longevity in the sport.”

Vanderkaay graduated from the University of Michigan in 2006.

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