Felipe Muñoz

Felipe Muñoz was nicknamed El Tibio which means lukewarm in English, because his father came from Aguascalientes, meaning hot waters, and his mother was from Rio Frio, meaning cold river. At only 17-years-old Muñoz was the surprise winner of the 200 breaststroke at the 1968 Olympics. He was not considered a favorite in the 1968 breaststroke events, those roles going to the world record holder Vladimir Kosinsky, and 1964 Olympic winner Ian O’Brien, but Muñoz surprised everyone by qualifying with the fastest time.

The Mexico City Olympics had lasted for 10 days and Mexico had yet to win a gold medal, and the final has been described as one of the most emotional in Olympic history. Muñoz was in fourth place at 100 metres, but began closing on the lead. With 50 meters to go, he exploded off the wall to pass three swimmers, getting close to Kosinsky, who had led throughout. The crowd went wild, chanting in unison for their native countryman, “Mu-ñoz, Mu-ñoz, Mu-ñoz.” Muñoz caught Kosinsky at 175 metres and pulled away in the final metres to win a surprising gold and sparked a celebration that lasted for hours.

Muñoz returned to the Olympics four years later 1972, as the flagbearer for Mexico at the Opening Ceremony and placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke. Besides his Olympic gold, he won silver in the 200 breast and bronze in the 200 IM at the 1971 Pan-American Games, bronze in the 200 breast at the 1973 Universiade, golds in both breaststrokes at the 1970 and 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games, and gold in the medley relay at the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games.

After finishing his swimming career, Muñoz became a sports official. A graduate of the University of Texas, Muñoz worked as a TV commentator before serving as deputy director of the communications department at the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport of Mexico (CONADE). From 1985-2001, he was head of the Mexican Sports Confederation (CODEME) and led the Mexican delegation at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

From 2001-12, Muñoz was president of the Mexican National Olympic Committee and was the treasurer, then secretary-general, and later vice-president of Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). In 2012, he was elected as a deputy to the LXII Legislature of the Mexican Congress as a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Muñoz received the Olympic Order in Silver in 1995 and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) in 1991.

Personal Bests: 100 m breaststroke – 1:08.95 (1972); 200 m breaststroke – 2:25.99 (1972).