Ben-Rachmiel Labowitch (born 1 July 1980) is a New Zealand former swimmer, who specialized in breaststroke events.[1] Since his mother is a New Zealand citizen, Labowitch claims a dual citizenship which allowed him to try out and make the New Zealand Olympic team.[2] Labowitch is also a former member of North Shore Swim Club under his coach Thomas Ensorg, and a graduate of Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where he played for the Drury Panthers.[3]

Ben Labowitch
Personal information
Full nameBen-Rachmiel Labowitch
National team New Zealand
Born (1980-07-01) 1 July 1980 (age 44)
Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke
ClubNorth Shore Swim Club
College teamDrury University (U.S.)
CoachThomas Ansorg

Labowitch qualified for three swimming events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He posted FINA B-standard entry times of 1:04.35 (100 m breaststroke) and 2:18.10 (200 m breaststroke) from the Olympic trials in Auckland.[4][5][6] On the first day of the Games, Labowitch shared a thirty-sixth place tie with Puerto Rico's Arsenio López in the 100 m breaststroke. Swimming in heat three, he edged out Lithuania's Aurimas Valaitis to break a 1:04 barrier and seize a third seed by 0.12 of a second in 1:03.99.[7][8] In his second event, 200 m breaststroke, Labowitch challenged seven other swimmers in heat two, including dual citizen Mihail Alexandrov of Bulgaria. He raced to seventh place and thirty-ninth overall in 2:19.25, just 1.15 seconds off his entry time.[9][10] He also teamed up with Scott Talbot-Cameron, Corney Swanepoel, and Cameron Gibson in the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Swimming the breaststroke leg in heat two, Labowitch recorded a time of 1:03.88, but the New Zealand team missed the final by 5 seconds, finishing in seventh place and twelfth overall with a final time of 3:42.74.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ben Labowitch". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  2. ^ Hayes, Jeron (14 October 2010). "Marine Captain was Olympic contender". DC Military. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  3. ^ "A Time: President's Report 2004". Drury University. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 3)". Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Swimming – Men's 200m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 2)". Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  6. ^ "NZ Olympic Team Profiles: Swimming". TVNZ. 30 June 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Men's 100m Breaststroke Heat 3". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  8. ^ Whitten, Phillip (14 August 2004). "Prelims, Men's 100 Breaststroke: Kitajima, Hansen Qualify One-Two; Japanese Sets Olympic Record". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Men's 200m Breaststroke Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  10. ^ Thomas, Stephen (17 August 2004). "Men's 200 Breaststroke Prelims, Day 4: 15 Year-Old Daniel Gyurta Continues the Hungarian Tradition, Leads with a Swift 2:11.29". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Men's 4×100m Medley Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  12. ^ Thomas, Stephen (20 August 2004). "Men's 400 Medley Relay, Prelims Day 7: USA Looks Absolutely Unbeatable; Expect a World Record!". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
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