John Kinsella

John Pitann Kinsella (born August 26, 1952) is an American former competition swimmer for Indiana University, a 1968 Olympic silver, and 1972 Olympic gold medalist, and a former world record-holder in multiple events.

Kinsella was a standout at Illinois swimming powerhouse Hinsdale Central High School in the late 1960s. From 1967 to 1970 greater Chicago's Hindale Central, often aided by Kinsella, won the Illinois State Championships by significant margins. In a unique achievement as a High School Senior in 1970, he became the first person to swim 1,500 meters in under 16 minutes.

As a career milestone, he was the American record holder in both the 500 and 1,650 freestyles.

After graduating from Indiana University, Kinsella went on to swim professionally, setting a time record for swimming the English Channel.

Honors In 1970, while still a high school senior swimming for Hinsdale Central High School and the Hinsdale McDonald's Swim Club under coach Don Watson, he was awarded the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Award in recognition of the outstanding American amateur athlete of the year. The exclusive honor is not frequently awarded to High School age athletes.

He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1986 as an "Honor Swimmer" in recognition of his Olympic performances and professional swimming career where he achieved the title of "World's Professional Champion."

After the end of his competitive swimming career, Kinsella attended Harvard Business School. He joined RBC Dain Rauscher as an investment officer, but is no longer with the firm. He currently resides in Illinois. He has a daughter and three sons.