Kevin Cordes (/ˈkɒrdɪs/CORE-dis; born August 13, 1993) is an American competitiveswimmer who specializes inbreaststroke events. He currently represents theCali Condors which is part of theInternational Swimming League. Cordes was a member of the 2016 U.S. Men's Olympic Swimming Team. He won gold in the4 × 100 m medley relay as a member of the preliminary relay, and took 4th place in the Men's 100m Breaststroke at the2016 Olympic Games.[1] He is the formerAmerican record holder in the 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke (long course).
Cordes was born inNaperville, Illinois in 1993, the son of Bill and Kristin Cordes. He is a 2011 graduate ofNeuqua Valley High School and he graduated from theUniversity of Arizona, where he was majoring inphysiology. Swimming for theArizona Wildcats, he was a six-time NCAA individual national champion, winning the 100-yard breaststroke four years in a row and the 200-yard breaststroke in 2013 and 2014. Cordes was the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Swimmer of the Year.
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At the2012 United States Olympic Trials, Cordes missed qualifying for the Olympic team, finishing third in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:00.58) and twelfth in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:13.26).[2][3]
At the2012 FINA Istanbul Short Course World Championships, his first major international competition, Cordes won a team gold medal and an individual bronze medal. The gold medal came his way in the4 × 100 m medley relay, swimming the breaststroke leg in 57.15 (the fastest in the field). In the100 m breaststroke, Cordes won a bronze medal with a time of 57.83.
At the2013 U.S. Summer Nationals, Cordes finished first in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, and finished second behindUniversity of Arizona teammateKevin Steel in the 50-meter breaststroke. Cordes qualified to compete in the individual 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, and the 4×100-meter medley relay at the2013 World Aquatics Championships.
At the2013 World Aquatics Championships, Cordes competed in three individual events and the 4x100-meter medley relay. In his first event, the 100-meter breaststroke, Cordes got a personal best time of 59.78 in the semifinal. In the finals however, he faded away and touched 7th with a time of 1:00.02.[4] In the 50-meter breaststroke, Cordes did not advance past the prelims, posting a time of 27.69 and finishing 21st overall.[5] In his final individual event, the 200-meter breaststroke, Cordes did not advance past the semifinals, finishing with a time of 2:10.03.[6] In the 4x100-meter medley relay, Cordes, as the breaststroke leg, was responsible for disqualifying the United States by diving 0.04 of a second early.[7]
At the2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Cordes won gold as a member of the 4x100-meter medley relay with the team finishing with a time of 3:29.94. Swimming the breaststroke leg, Cordes recorded a split of 58.64. In the 100-meter breaststroke, Cordes was disqualified for taking off his goggles midway through the race after they filled with water. In the 200-meter breaststroke, Cordes scratched from the final after posting a time of 2:10.01 in the heats in order to concentrate on the medley relay.
In preparation for the2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Cordes moved toSingapore to train with formerBolles swimming head coach,Sergio López.
At the 2016 US Olympic Swimming Trials, Cordes placed first in the 100m breaststroke, qualifying him for the Olympic Team.[8] Subsequently, at the2016 Summer Olympics, he placed 4th in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 59.22, and 8th in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:08.34.[9][10]
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m breaststroke | 26.76 | 2015 World Championships | August 4, 2015 | Former AM |
| 100 m breaststroke | 58.64 | 2017 World Championships | July 23, 2017 | Former AM |
| 200 m breaststroke | 2:07.41 | 2017 USA Nationals | June 28, 2017 |
| Event | Time | Meet | Date | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m breaststroke | 56.88 | 2013 Duel in the Pool | December 21, 2013 | Former AM |
| 200 m breaststroke | 2:02.38 | 2013 Duel in the Pool | December 20, 2013 | Former AM |
Cordes has two siblings, Caroline and Jack. His father Bill played football for the University of Arizona. His sister Caroline played volleyball for the University of Arizona.[11] His brother Jack played basketball forHillsdale College.[12]
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