Steve Lundquist
American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion, former world record-holder
About Steve Lundquist
Born 1961. Steve Lundquist is an American swimmer and film actor.
Stephen K. Lundquist (born February 20, 1961) is an American former competition swimmer who is an Olympic gold medalist and former world record-holder. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he won gold medals in the 100-meter breaststroke and the 400-meter medley relay.
Lundquist was the first swimmer to break two minutes in the 200-yard breaststroke, and won every 100-yard breaststroke event he entered from 1980 to 1983. At age 17 he broke his first world record and in his career he set new world and American records on 15 occasions. He first broke the 100-meter breaststroke world record in 1982 and held it until 1989, with the exception of one month in 1984 when John Moffet broke it in June at the U.S. Olympic Trials (with Lundquist reclaiming it at the Olympic Games in July). He also held the world record in the 200-meter individual medley in 1978. He set American records in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley.
Coached by Arthur Winters, Lundquist switched from a butterfly swimmer when he was 12 years old to the breaststroke, which is the stroke he came to dominate. Winters was at the end of the pool when he broke his first world record at 17 years of age. At SMU, Lundquist swam for Hall of Fame Coach George McMillion.
Lundquist went on after the 1984 Olympics to spend time volunteering for charitable organizations and making appearances on television and in movies. In June 1985, People Magazine recognized him for having the Best Chest of male celebrities, which included a full-page picture of his muscular torso. In 1996 when the Olympics were hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, he was an Olympic torchbearer, the Clayton County Master of Ceremonies for the torch run, and the Olympic flagbearer at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Achievements U.S. Honorary Olympic Team medalist, swimming, 1980 United States Swimmer of the Year, 1982 Olympia Award, 1983 U.S. Olympic Team double gold medalist, swimming, 1984 International Swimming Hall of Fame, inducted in 1990 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame's youngest inductee, 1990 Olympic flagbearer, torch-runner, emcee, 1996 Voted America's Top Breast-Stroker of the Century By US Swimming Georgia State Games Cauldron Lighter, 1997 3rd place, Super Dogs Super Jocks, 1998
Education Attended Woodward Academy, College Park, Georgia Graduated from Jonesboro High School, Georgia 1979 Graduated (BBA) from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1984 Graduated (MBA) from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Executive Master's Program) 1994 Graduate of Beverly Hills Playhouse School of Acting, and studied under Milton Katselas and Jeff Goldblum Studied voice under Ron Anderson
Appearances on America's major national talk shows Johnny Carson Larry King Live Joan Rivers Good Morning America This Morning The Today Show CNN Sports Talk Radio Talk Show Host during 1996 Summer Olympics Commentator for the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow
Acting credits Regular on Search For Tomorrow TV Soap The Love Boat episode "The Shipshape Cruise" ABC TV's Actors to Watch Talent and Development Program Earth Girls are Easy Return of the Killer Tomatoes Killer Tomatoes Strike Back Killer Tomatoes Eat France Beach Boys MTV video "It's Getting Late" Splash videos After School TV special nominated for an Emmy entitled "Testing Positive" Card Sharks (#748) January 31, 1989
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Important facts
People in Steve Lundquist's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Steve Lundquist's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Steve Lundquist?
American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion, former world record-holder
When was Steve Lundquist born?
Steve Lundquist was born on 20 February 1961 in Atlanta.
What is Steve Lundquist's occupation?
Steve Lundquist is a swimmer and film actor.
What nationality is Steve Lundquist?
Steve Lundquist is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Steve Lundquist. https://biography.guide/steve-lundquist/
MLA: "Steve Lundquist." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/steve-lundquist/.
Chicago: "Steve Lundquist." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/steve-lundquist/.
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