Goodell, Brian S.
Swimming
b. April 2, 1959, Stockton, CA
Known as a tireless worker who did extreme long-distance training, Goodell set world records in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle events at the 1976 Olympic trials, then broke his own records in both events at the Olympic games. In the 1,500-meter final, he did the final 100 meters in an incredible 57.73 seconds, which would have been good enough to win the national 100-meter championship twenty-five years before.
Goodell was a student at Mission Viejo High School at the time. He went to UCLA and won nine NCAA championships, in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyles and the 400-yard individual medley from 1978 through 1980. He made the 1980 Olympic team, but the U. S. boycott of the Soviet games deprived him of the chance for more medals.