David Walters

Personal information
Nickname	Dave
National team	United States
Born	(1987-09-27)September 27, 1987 (age 38) Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	Trojan Aquatics
College team	University of Texas
Coach	Eddie Reese,Kris Kubik (U. Texas)
Medal record Men's swimming Representingthe United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing 4×200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) 2007 Melbourne 4×200 m freestyle 2009 Rome 4×200 m freestyle 2009 Rome 4×100 m medley 2011 Shanghai 4×200 m freestyle 2011 Shanghai 4×100 m freestyle World Championships (SC) 2010 Dubai 4×200 m freestyle

David Walters (born September 27, 1987), also known asDave Walters, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and world record-holder in the 4x200 meter freestyler relay. At the2008 Summer Olympics, Walters earned a gold medal by swimming in the heats of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. As part of the American team, he also formerly held theworld record in the 4×100-meter medley relay (long course). Walters is also a seven-time medalist (five gold, one silver, one bronze) at theWorld Aquatics Championships.

Walters was born inNewport News, Virginia. He graduated fromTabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia, where he competed for the Tabb Tigers high school swim team. He received an athletic scholarship to attend theUniversity of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he swam for Hall of Fame coachEddie Reese andKris Kubik'sTexas Longhorns swimming and diving team inNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) andBig 12 Conference competition from 2007 to 2010. He was a four-time Big 12 champion, a six-time All-American, and won the individual NCAA national championship in the 200-yard freestyle in 2008. At the conclusion of his 2009–10 senior year, the Longhorns won the NCAA national team championship.^[1]

Walters swam the first leg of the4×200meter freestyle relay preliminaries (in 1:46.57) withRicky Berens,Erik Vendt, andKlete Keller. Their time of 7:04.66 broke the previousOlympic record of 7:07.05 set by Australia in 2000.^[2] In the final of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay,Michael Phelps,Ryan Lochte, Berens andPeter Vanderkaay swam a combined time of 6:58.56, a newworld record.^[3]

At the 2009 National Championships, Walters competed in three events. In his first event, the 200-meter freestyle, Walters placed second toMichael Phelps with a time of 1:44.95.^[4] In the 100-meter freestyle, Walters placed second toNathan Adrian in a time of 48.17.^[5] In the 50-meter freestyle, Walters placed 15th in the heats with a time of 22.60.^[6]

At the2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Walters earned a gold medal as a member of the4×200-meter freestyle relay. Walters, with Michael Phelps,Ricky Berens andRyan Lochte, swam a combined time of 6:58.55 to break the world record set last year in Beijing.^[7] In the100-meter freestyle final, Walters placed 5th with a time of 47.33 to break Michael Phelps'American record of 47.51.^[8] Walters placed 12th overall in the200-meter freestyle and did not advance to the final.^[9] In the4×100-meter medley relay final, Walters, withAaron Peirsol, Michael Phelps, andEric Shanteau, swam a combined time of 3:27.28 to break the world record set last year in Beijing.^[10]

After not making the2012 Olympic team, Walters retired from competitive swimming.^[11] He subsequently joined theLos Angeles Fire Department as afirefighter. For his service in thePalisades Fire, Walters was awarded thePat Tillman Award for Service at the2025 ESPY Awards.^[12][13][14]

As of August 6, 2010.

Key: NR = National record

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of University of Texas at Austin alumni
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
• World record progression 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay

• David Walters atWorld Aquatics
• David Walters atOlympics.com
• Dave Walters atOlympedia
• Dave Walters atUSA Swimming (archived June 2, 2021)
• David Walters atTeam USA (archive June 26, 2023)
• David Walters at the University of Texas at theWayback Machine (archived October 10, 2008)

• 1987 births
• Living people
• American male freestyle swimmers
• Olympic gold medalists for the United States in swimming
• Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Texas Longhorns men's swimmers
• World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
• World record holders in swimming
• Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Sportspeople from Newport News, Virginia
• People from Los Angeles
• Tabb High School alumni
• 21st-century American sportsmen
• 21st-century American firefighters

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