Tim McKee

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAlexander Timothy "Tim"•McKee
Used nameTim•McKee
Born14 March 1953 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania (USA)
Measurements173 cm / 70 kg
AffiliationsSuburban Seahawks Club, Newtown Square (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 3
Bronze 0
Total 3

Biography

Tim McKee missed a gold medal by the smallest margin in Olympic history. In the 400 IM, he and Sweden’s Gunnar Larsson apparently tied for first when the electronic timing clocked them both at 4:31.98 secs. But the timing was sensitive enough to measure to thousandths of a second and Larsson’s 4:31.981 defeated McKee’s 4:31.983 – a margin of 2/1,000ths of a second. This episode caused a change in international rules, as McKee’s defeat was by less than the amount a fingernail grows over several weeks. In fact, it was determined that McKee could actually have lost had the paint on the wall in his lane been applied slightly too thin. In addition to his three Olympic silver medals, Tim McKee, who attended the University of Florida, won a silver medal in the 200 m backstroke at the 1971 Pan American Games.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1972 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Tim McKee
200 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) 5
200 metres Individual Medley, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
400 metres Individual Medley, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
1976 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Tim McKee
400 metres Individual Medley, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes