Hencken, John F.
Swimming
b. May 29, 1954, Culver City, CA
After a knee operation, Hencken took up swimming as physical therapy in his early teens. He became an outstanding breaststroker during the 1970s. Hencken won gold medals in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1972 Olympics and the 100-meter in 1976, when he won a silver in the 200-meter. He was also a member of the gold medal 4 by 100-meter medley relay team in 1976.
Hencken's first major victory came in the AAU national outdoor 100-meter breaststroke in 1972. He entered Stanford University that fall and won NCAA championships in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1975 and 1976, the 200-yard in 1974 and 1975.
He was also the national outdoor champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke in 1973, 1974, and 1976. He won indoor titles in the 100-yard in 1974 and in both the 100- and 200-yard events in 1975. Hencken won the world 100-meter breaststroke championship in 1973 and finished second in the 200-meter.
Hencken set a total of eleven world records in the two breaststroke distances. He retired from competition after the 1976 Olympics.