Ken Merten

Ken Merten competed for Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1968, and the Los Angeles Athletic Club. A breaststroker, Merten won NCAA titles in 1967 in the 100 and 200 yard events. He won three medals at the Pan American Games, wining a silver in the 1963 200 metre breaststroke, and two bronze medals in 1967 in the 100 and 200 metre breaststroke events. In 1967 Merten also won two gold medals in both breaststroke events at the Universiade. By profession Merten was a schoolteacher, administrator and coach. He retired after 32 years as a teacher and became a nationally competitive windsurfer. He also been active in Swim Across America, a non-profit organization that uses Olympic swimmers to raise funds for cancer research.