Full name Frank Heckl Name Frank Heckl | ||
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Frank Heckl (born c. 1950) is an American former competition swimmer, seven-time Pan American Games medalist, and former world record-holder in two relay events.
At the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, Heckl won a remarkable seven medals, six of them gold and one silver. His gold medal performances included three individual races: the 100- and 200-meter freestyle, and 100-meter butterfly (56.92); and three relay races: the 4x100-meter freestyle (3:32.15), 4x200-meter freestyle (7:45.82), and 4x100-meter medley (3:56.08). He also won a silver medal in the 200-meter medley (2:12.11).
Heckl attended the University of Southern California (USC), where he swam for the USC Trojans swimming and diving team from 1969 to 1972. As Trojan swimmer, he was a member of seven NCAA championship relay teams.
Heckl subsequently graduated from USC with his bachelor's and medical degrees, and has served as a team doctor for the U.S. national team, including the 1984 Olympics. As of 2015, he works in New Mexico as an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and arthroscopy.