David Larson

David Erwin Larson (born June 25, 1959) is an American former competition swimmer who is an Olympic gold medalist and former world record-holder. Larson is a Georgia native who became an All-American college swimmer for the University of Florida. He was known for his success as a member of American relay teams in international competition at the Pan American Games and the Olympics – and for setting two world records in the 4×200-meter relay event on the same day at the 1984 Olympics.

Early years Larson was born in the small town of Jesup, Georgia in 1959. He started swimming as an age-group competitor in 1963. He attended the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he swam for the Bolles high school swim team. He graduated from Bolles in 1977. Larson won two NCAA championships at Florida in the 800-yard freestyle relay (1979, 1981), setting American and NCAA records in the process. and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."

International swimming career Larson was first selected for the U.S. national swim team for the 1979 Pan American Games held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In what would become a regular match-up, Larson earned a silver medal in the men's 200-meter freestyle for his second-place finish (1:52.24) behind American teammate Rowdy Gaines (1:51.22). Two days later, Larson and Gaines combined with fellow Americans Brian Goodell and Kris Kirchner to win a Pan American Games gold medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay (7:31.28).

He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1980, as a member of the U.S. team in the men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay, but was unable to compete because of the United States-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. Larson continued his training with the program that coach Randy Reese had created for post-college swimmers in Gainesville, Florida.

Larson represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. But the new record was short-lived. The American media dubbed the four swimmers the "Gross Busters," a play on the title of the popular 1984 movie Ghostbusters.

In the aftermath of the 1984 Olympics, Larson retired from competitive swimming at the age of 25.

Life after swimming After the post-Olympic national celebrations, Larson was offered an opportunity to work in sports marketing in New York City. His early professional career involved dealings with agents, creating event sponsorships, and negotiating athlete contracts. He spent the next decade working in sports marketing, then in television. He worked with NBC on its Olympic broadcasts, including the 2005 Winter Games.

Larson and his wife Kitty, a Miami lawyer, have a son.

World records Men's 4×200-meter medley relay