Rick DeMont

Richard James DeMont (born April 21, 1956) is an American former competition swimmer, world champion, and former world record-holder in multiple events. Despite placing first in the 400-meter freestyle at the 1972 Summer Olympics, DeMont is remembered for the controversy subsequently arising from his disqualification and being stripped of the 400-meter gold medal after testing positive for a prohibited substance present in his prescription asthma medication.

After retiring from his swimming career, where he won gold and silver medals at the World Aquatics and Pan American Championships, DeMont had an accomplished career as a swim team coach with the University of Arizona for thirty years from 1987 to 2017. DeMont was born in San Francisco, California on April 21, 1956, the oldest of four children to Dr. Willard and Betty DeMont.

The family moved to in Mill Valley, California until DeMont was six, when they moved to suburban San Rafael, California, where he attended Terra Linda High School, graduating in 1973.