Sport: Swimming

Hometown: Oak Park, IL

Biography: John Kinsella - Hinsdale Central Swimming. With Don Watson at the helm, was to high school swimming what the New York Yankees were to baseball ? a dynasty; and John was, arguably, the greatest swimmer this school ever produced. A 1970 graduate, his list of accomplishments, during that time, is staggering: 6 Individual Illinois State H.S. swimming titles + 3 relays in 3 years, Selected to the 1968 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team in Mexico City; won the Silver Medal in the 1500m. Freestyle at age 16, Set a National Interscholastic H.S. record in the 400 yd. Freestyle in 1970, Captain of the National Interscholastic H.S. Swimming Team in 1970, Set American records in the 500yd. & 1650yd. John has world records in the 400m & 1500m. Events as a H.S. senior, American record in the 4 mile-Long Distance events, Winner of the 1970 Sullivan Award as the outstanding amateur athlete in the USA. He attended the University of Indiana, under the tutelage of the legendary coach - James "Doc" Counsilman - from 1971 - 74 and continued to distinguish himself: Winner of 6 individual NCAA Titles, setting 4 NCAA records, 4 World and 8 American records as well as 11 Senior National titles. John was selected, once again, to represent the USA in the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany where he won a Gold Medal in the 800m. After graduation from IU, John competed in professional marathon swimming, winning 26 titles world wide from 1974-79. He swam the English Channel in 1979 at age 27.