Full name Roy Allen Saari Name Roy Saari Strokes Freestyle swimming Club El Segundo Swim Club Weight 86 kg | Sport Swimming Height 1.88 m National team United States Role Swimmer | |
 | ||
Born February 26, 1946 ( 1946-02-26 ) Buffalo, New York College team University of Southern California Died December 30, 2008, Mammoth Lakes, California, United States Education University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University Olympic medals Swimming at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre individual medley | ||
Roy Allen Saari (February 26, 1945 – December 30, 2008) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.
Saari represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He won a gold medal as a member of the first-place U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay, setting a new world record in the event final with teammates Steve Clark, Gary Ilman and Don Schollander (3:52.1). In individual competition, he earned a silver medal for finishing second in the 400-meter individual medley (4:47.1). He also advanced to the finals of the 400-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle, placing fourth and seventh, respectively.
He attended the University of Southern California, and swam for the USC Trojans swimming and diving team. He graduated from USC in 1967, and received his law degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1973. Saari later practiced law in Orange County, California.
His brother, Robert Saari, also competed at the 1964 Olympics in the water polo competition. One of Saari's world records included being the first person to break the 17-minute barrier in the 1,500-meter freestyle.
Saari died December 30, 2008 of heart failure; he was 63 years old.