Jason Lezak

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJason Edward•Lezak
Used nameJason•Lezak
Born12 November 1975 in Bellflower, California (USA)
Measurements193 cm / 98 kg
AffiliationsIrvine Novaquatics, Irvine (USA) / Rose Bowl Aquatics, Pasadena (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 4
Silver 2
Bronze 2
Total 8

Biography

Jason Lezak was a sprint freestyler who won eight Olympic medals and four gold medals between 2000 and 2012, but he is best known for one race – anchoring the 2008 4x100 metre freestyle relay, one of the greatest Olympic swim races ever.

Lezak went to college at UC Santa Barbara, graduating in 1998. He made the 2000 Olympic team where he won his first Olympic gold, in the medley relay. His only individual Olympic medal was a bronze in the 2008 100 metre freestyle. He won golds in the 2004 and 2008 medley relays, and silvers in the 4x100 freestyle in 2000 and 2012, along with a bronze in that event in 2004, in addition to the aforementioned 2008 gold medal. His eight Olympic medals ranked him =8th all-time among American men (as of 2022).

In 2008, the United States was not favored in the 4x100 freestyle relay, that honor going to the French team, led by the 100 metre freestyle gold medalist, Alain Bernard. Lezak was the US anchor, and when he took off, Bernard had already been staked to a 0.59 second lead by his teammates, a margin that seemed insurmountable, but Lezak chipped away at the lead, beating Bernard by 0.67 on the anchor leg, and bringing the USA an unexpected gold medal. The win also preserved Michael Phelps’ perfect Olympic effort of eight gold medals in eight events.

At the World Championships Lezak won six medals with four golds, all in relays between 2003 and 2011. At the Short-Course Worlds he won seven medals with five gold medals, again all in relays, between 2002-06. He added eight medals and five golds at the Pan Pacific Championships from 1999-2010.

Lezak passed up the opportunity to compete at the 2009 World Championships to swim at the Maccabiah Games, where he was given the honor of lighting the Maccabiah torch at the Opening Ceremony. He won the 50 and 100 metre freestyles there and helped win golds in the medley relay and 4x1 free relay, giving him a total of 33 medals at major international meets.

Lezak later became general manager of the Cali Condors in the International Swimming League. He was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2006 was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
2000 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Jason Lezak
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 2 Silver
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold
2004 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Jason Lezak
50 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 5
100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 21
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 3 Bronze
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold
2008 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Jason Lezak
100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) =3 Bronze
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold
2012 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) USA Jason Lezak
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) United States 2 Silver

Special Notes