Eric John Namesnik (August 7, 1970 – January 11, 2006), nicknamed "Snik," was an American competition

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

and two-time Olympic silver medalist in the men's 400-meter Individual Medley (1992 & 1996).

Early years

Namesnik was born and raised in the town of

Butler, Pennsylvania Butler is a city in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is north of Pittsburgh and part of the Greater Pittsburgh region. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,502. Butler is named after Major General ...

, and swam for the Butler YMCA Swim team while he was growing up. He initially attended Butler Area Senior High School, transferring after his sophomore season to Spanish River Community High School in

Boca Raton, Florida Boca Raton ( ; ) is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 97,422 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and it ranked as the 23rd-largest city in Florida in 2022. Many people with a Boca Raton Address, ...

. He accepted a swimming scholarship from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, to compete under coach Jon Urbanchek's

Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving The Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving teams represent the University of Michigan in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. The men's and women's teams, which had be ...

team from 1989 to 1993.

Swimming career

Namesnik represented the United States at two consecutive Olympic Games. At the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics (, ), officially the Games of the XXV Olympiad (, ) and officially branded as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Beginning in 1994 ...

in Barcelona, Spain, he received his first Olympic medal, a silver, for his second-place performance in the men's 400-meter individual medley (4:15.57). Four years later at the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, he again finished second and received a silver medal in his signature event, the men's 400-meter individual medley (4:15.25).Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes
Eric Namesnik
. Retrieved January 14, 2023. He also won a bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the 1994 world championships, and two silvers at the 1991 world meet. He set a new American record in the 400-meter individual medley on four occasions.

Swim coaching

He later spent seven years (1997-2004) as an assistant with the men's

team under coach Jon Urbanchek. He was a volunteer assistant coach at

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public university, public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal ...

for two years before his death and was a coach for Wolverine Aquatics Club in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

Death

Namesnik died on January 11, 2006, from injuries sustained in a car accident the prior week. On January 7, 2006, he was critically injured in an accident that occurred when he attempted to pass another vehicle on an ice-covered road in

Pittsfield Township, Michigan Pittsfield Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 39,147 at the 2020 census. Communities * Lucerne is a former settlement within the township that had its own post office fr ...

. He was survived by his wife, former swimmer Kirsten Silvester from the Netherlands, and their two children, Austin and Madison. His former club team, Club Wolverine, hosts the Namesnik Memorial Grand Prix every spring in his honor. He is memorialized with a statue outside of the Butler County YMCA, along with his childhood coach John "Pump" McLaughlin.

References

External links