Eric Namesnik

Eric John Namesnik (August 7, 1970 – January 11, 2006), nicknamed "Snik," was an American competition swimmer and Olympic medalist.

Eric Namesnik

Personal information
Full name	Eric John Namesnik
Nickname(s)	"Snik"
National team	United States
Born	(1970-08-07)August 7, 1970 Butler, Pennsylvania
Died	January 11, 2006(2006-01-11) (aged 35) Ypsilanti, Michigan
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	172 lb (78 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Individual medley
Club	Club Wolverine
College team	University of Michigan
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 1992 Barcelona 400 m medley 1996 Atlanta 400 m medley World Championships (LC) 1991 Perth 200 m medley 1991 Perth 400 m medley 1994 Rome 400 m medley Pan Pacific Championships 1991 Edmonton 400 m medley 1989 Tokyo 400 m medley 1991 Edmonton 200 m medley 1995 Atlanta 400 m medley Pan American Games 1995 Mar del Plata 200 m breast 1995 Mar del Plata 400 m medley 1995 Mar del Plata 200 m medley

Namesnik was born and raised in the town of Butler, Pennsylvania, and swam for the Butler YMCA Swim team while he was growing up. After high school, he attended the University of Michigan, and swam for coach Jon Urbanchek's Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving team from 1989 to 1993. He later spent seven years as an assistant with the men's team there under Urbanchek. He then was a volunteer assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University for two years before his death and was a coach for Wolverine Aquatics in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Namesnik represented the United States at two consecutive Olympic Games. At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, he received his first Olympic medal, a silver, for his second-place performance in the men's 400-meter individual medley (4:15.57). Four years later at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, he again finished second and received a silver medal in his signature event, the men's 400-meter individual medley (4:15.25).[1]

He also won a bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the 1994 world championships, and two silvers at the 1991 world meet. He set a new American record in the 400-meter individual medley on four occasions.

He died on January 11, 2006 from injuries sustained in a car accident the prior week. He was critically injured in the January 7, 2006 accident that occurred when he attempted to pass another vehicle on an ice-covered road in Pittsfield Township, Michigan. He was survived by his wife, former swimmer Kirsten Silvester from the Netherlands, and their two children, Austin and Madison. His former club team, Club Wolverine, hosts the Namesnik Memorial Grand Prix every spring in his honor.

Namesnik is memorialized with a statue outside of the Butler County YMCA, along with his childhood coach John "Pump" McLaughlin.