Pablo Morales

In 1988 Pedro Pablo Morales was considered the world’s butterfly swimmer, and was expected to win multiple medals at the Seoul Olympics, until an unusual thing happened – he failed to make the 1988 US Olympic team. Morales competed at the Olympics in 1984 and 1992, winning three medals in 1984. After the Los Angeles Olympics he dominated his events internationally, winning gold in the 100 fly and medley relay at the 1986 World Championships. He won three golds at the 1985 Pan Pacifics and two golds and a bronze at the 1987 Pan Pacs. Morales also won silver in the 100 fly at the 1983 Pan American Games. He set two world records in the 100 fly, one in 1984 (53.38), and one in 1986, a 52.84 mark set in Orlando that survived for nine years.

Morales attended Stanford University, where he won 11 NCAA individual championships prior to the Seoul Olympics. He then attended law school at Cornell and somewhat dropped off the top of the swimming world. Morales returned, however, in 1991, and came back to make the 1992 Olympic team and stunned everyone by winning a gold medal in the 100 butterfly, his best event, and adding a gold in the medley relay. Morales later worked as a swim coach at the University of Nebraska.