Lars Jorgensen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameLars Ploug•Jorgensen
Used nameLars•Jorgensen
Born1 September 1970
Measurements186 cm / 80 kg
NOC United States

Biography

Lars Jorgensen started his college career at Southern Cal, but transferred to the University of Tennessee. A distance freestyler, he swam the 1,500 freestyle at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Jorgensen later went into coaching, starting as an assistant at LSU, where he was later named associate head coach. He then became head coach at the University of Toledo, before returning to Knoxville as an assistant coach for the Vols. In 2012 Jorgensen was interim head coach when the head coach, Joe Hendee, took time off for health concerns. His brother, Dan Jorgensen, would later swim at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the 4x200 relay.

In addition to swimming, Jorgensen spent time competing professionally in triathlons, and set the record for the swim phase of the Hawai’i Ironman competition. They came from an active family as their father, Niels Jørgensen, was a top wrestler in Denmark. Jorgensen later became head swimming and diving coach at the University of Kentucky.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Lars Jorgensen
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 23

Olympic family relations

Special Notes