Swimming Career Highlights
Michael Gross, West Germany Born : 1964 in Frankfurt. Nicknamed "The Albatross" , because of his wide arm position in his dominant event the butterfly, was the greatest swimmer of the 1980`s. Over a long career he won 3 Olympic gold medals and broke 12 World Records.

 

Titles (Long Course)

1981:
European: 200 metres Butterfly
1982:
World: 200 metres Freestyle; 200 metres Butterfly
European Swimmer of the Year
1983:
 European: 200 metres Freestyle; 100 metres Butterfly;
200 metres Butterfly; 4 x 200 metres Relay
European Swimmer of the Year
1984:
Olympics: 200 metres Freestyle; 100 metres Butterfly;
European Swimmer of the Year
1985:
European: 200 metres Freestyle; 100 metres Butterfly;
200 metres Butterfly; 4 x 200 metres Freestyle relay:
4 x 100 Medley relay
World Swimmer of the Year
European Swimmer of the Year
1986:
World: 200 metres Freestyle; 200 metres Butterfly
European Swimmer of the Year
1987:
European: 200 metres Butterfly; 4 x 200 metres Freestyle relay
1988:
Olympics: 200 metres Butterfly

World Records

1983:
 200 metres Freestyle: 1.48.28; 1.47.87
200 metres Butterfly: 1.57.05
1984:
200 metres Freestyle: 1.47.55; 1.47.44
100 metres Butterfly: 53.08
1985:
400 metres Freestyle: 3.47.80
200 metres Butterfly: 1.57.01; 1.56.65
1986:
200 metres Butterfly: 1.56.24