Robbie Taylor (born March 31, 1981) is a Canadian former swimmer who specialized in sprint freestyle and backstroke events.[1] He earned a silver medal, as a 17-year-old at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, and later represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics. During his sporting career, Taylor trained for the Cobra Swim Club in Brampton, Ontario, under Bill O'Toole, swam for the Texas A&M Aggies swimming and diving team under head coach Mel Nash, and swam at the Canadian National Sport Centre under legendary coach Paul Bergen.[2]

Robbie Taylor
Personal information
Full nameRobbie Taylor
National team Canada
Born (1981-03-31) March 31, 1981 (age 43)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight94 kg (207 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubCity of Brampton (COBRA)
College teamTexas A&M University
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing Canada
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 1998 Kuala Lumpur 4×100 m freestyle

Taylor made his own swimming history at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. There, he shared silver medals with Craig Hutchison, Stephen Clarke and Garrett Pulle in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay with a time of 3:21.27.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Taylor competed only in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay.[3] Teaming with Hutchison, Rick Say and Yannick Lupien in heat three, Taylor swam the second leg and recorded a split of 50.89, but the Canadians came up short to fifth place and thirteenth overall in a final time of 3:21.98.[4][5]

Taylor also sought his bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. At the Canadian Olympic Trials, he posted an identical time of 55.53 to share first place with Jake Tapp in the 100-metre backstroke, but missed a chance to snatch his bid from a head-to-head battle in a swimoff.[6][7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Robbie Taylor". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  2. ^ Miller, Troy (January 28, 2002). "Horns top A&M in pool". The Battalion. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  3. ^ "Swimming – Men's 4×100m Freestyle Relay Startlist (Heat 3)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  4. ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 4×100m Freestyle Relay Heat 3" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 336. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  5. ^ Newberry, Paul (September 16, 2000). "Thompson anchors U.S. relay win; Thorpe wins 400 free". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Four-year wait til next Olympics spurs Tapp in 100m backstroke duel". The Edmonton Journal. Canada.com. April 4, 2008. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  7. ^ "3 more Canadian swim records fall at trials". CBC Sports. April 4, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2013.

External links edit