Full name Jon Howard Svendsen Name Jon Svendsen | Role Olympic athlete | |
Born October 26, 1953 (age 70) ( 1953-10-26 ) Berkeley, California, U.S. | ||
Jon Howard Svendsen (born October 26, 1953 in Berkeley, California) is an American water polo player and swimmer. He was a member of the 1980 US Olympic Team, and earned a Silver Medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
A standout for the Cal State Bears on three consecutive NCAA title winning water polo teams between 1973 and ‘75, Svendsen was named the Collegiate Player of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year and NCAA Tournament MVP in 1975.
He was a three-time All-American in 1973, ‘74 and ‘75, leading Cal State Men's Water Polo to a combined 72-9 record during that span. Svendsen was a regular on the U.S. National Team for a decade, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, played at the 1975 and 1983 Pan American Games, and earned a Silver Medal at the 1984 Olympics. Svendsen, renowned for his 98 mph backhand, played in numerous other international water polo tournaments.
He is a two-time All-American in swimming (1973 and ‘75).
Jon Svendsen was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, in 1989.