Kevin Cordes

Kevin Cordes ( ; born August 13, 1993) is an American competitive swimmer who specializes in breaststroke events. He currently represents the Cali Condors which is part of the International Swimming League. Cordes was a member of the 2016 U.S. Men's Olympic Swimming Team. He won gold in the medley relay as a member of the preliminary relay, and took 4th place in the Men's 100m Breaststroke at the 2016 Olympic Games. He is the former American record holder in the 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke (long course).

Early life and education

Cordes was born in Naperville, Illinois in 1993, the son of Bill and Kristin Cordes. He is a 2011 graduate of Neuqua Valley High School and he graduated from the University of Arizona, where he was majoring in physiology. Swimming for the Arizona 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.

Career

2012

At the 2012 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).

At the 2012 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 the medley relay, swimming the breaststroke leg in 57.15 (the fastest in the field). In the 100 m breaststroke, Cordes won a bronze medal with a time of 57.83.

2013

At the 2013 U.S. Summer Nationals, Cordes finished first in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, and finished second behind University of Arizona teammate Kevin 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 the 2013 World Aquatics 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.

2015

In preparation for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Cordes moved to Singapore to train with former Bolles swimming head coach, Sergio López.

2016

At the 2016 US Olympic Swimming Trials, Cordes placed first in the 100m breaststroke, qualifying him for the Olympic Team. Subsequently, at the 2016 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.

Personal bests

Personal life

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. His brother Jack played basketball for Hillsdale College.Hillsdale College Chargers. Men's basketball. Jack Cordes.
Retrieved February 25, 2019

See also

* List of University of Arizona people
* Arizona Wildcats

References

External links

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Kevin Cordes – University of Arizona athlete profile at ArizonaWildcats.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cordes, Kevin
1993 births
Living people
American male breaststroke swimmers
Arizona Wildcats men's swimmers
Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)
Sportspeople from Naperville, Illinois
Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2019 Pan American Games
World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
World record holders in swimming
Olympic gold medalists for the United States in swimming
Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games
Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in swimming
21st-century American sportsmen