Hickcox, Charles B.
Swimming
b. Feb. 6, 1947, Phoenix, AZ
Hickcox was the surprise winner of three gold medals at the 1968 Olympics, in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys and in the 4 by 100-meter medley relay. He also won a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke.
Best known as a backstroker, Hickcox won only one national championship in the individual medley. He and Indiana University teammate Gary Hall swam stroke for stroke in the 400-meter event at the Olympics and Hickcox touched out to win by .3 second.
At Indiana, he won seven NCAA championships, in the 100-yard backstroke in 1967 and 1968, the 200-yard backstroke from 1967 through 1969, and the 200-yard individual medley in 1968 and 1969.
He won AAU national outdoor championships in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke events in 1966 and 1967. Indoors, he won the 100-yard backstroke in 1968, the 200-yard backstroke in 1966 and 1968, and the 200-yard individual medley in 1968.
After graduating from Indiana in 1969, Hickcox retired from competition. He later worked as a television commentator and swimming coach.