Full name Paul Rory Palmer Role Freestyle swimmer National team United Kingdom Height 2.00 m | Sport Swimming Weight 95 kg Name Paul Palmer Strokes Freestyle swimming | |
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Born 18 October 1974 (age 49) ( 1974-10-18 ) Lincoln, England Club City of Lincoln Pentaqua Olympic medals Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre freestyle | ||
Paul Palmer (born 18 October 1974 in Lincoln, England) is a former international freestyle swimmer for England and Great Britain.
Coached by Ian Turner at the City of Lincoln Pentaqua Swimming Club, Palmer qualified for the 200 m, 400 m and 1500 m freestyle at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, finishing a respectable 9th position (winning the "B" final) in the 200 m, and 10th position in the 400 m. After this success, in order to increase his chances of a medal at the following Atlanta games, Palmer relocated to Bath, along with Turner. Training in a 50 m pool, alongside other Olympic hopefuls at the performance centre allowed Palmer to take his swimming to a new level.
He won the silver medal in the 400 m freestyle at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. A year later, at the 1997 European Aquatics Championships in Seville, he won gold in the 200 m freestyle.