Tom Wilkens

Thomas Peter Wilkens (born November 25, 1975) is an American former competitive swimmer who competed for Stanford University and was a 2000 Sydney Olympic bronze medalist in the men's 200-meter individual medley. After retiring from swimming around 2004, he had a career in insurance with AIG and McGowan Insurance, and served as a Middletown Township committee member in his hometown. He coached swimming with Greater Monmouth County's YMCA beginning in 2016, and later at Fordham University beginning in 2023.

Early life and swimming Wilkens was born November 25, 1975, in Middletown Township, New Jersey to father Peter, a Viet Nam veteran, and mother Laney Wilkens. Growing up in Middletown Township, he began swimming around eight, training and competing first at the Middletown Swim and Tennis Club, and later for the nearby Red Bank YMCA, where he was coached by Mark Riker. In YMCA competition, he was a three-time national champion. Wilkens began swimming with the CBA team from their inaugural year in 1991 through 1994, Recognized by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) during his Senior year in 1994, Wilkens became an All American in the 200-yard Individual Medley and the 100-yard butterfly, having set New Jersey state records in both events. His dominance at the state level earned him a place on the Stanford University swim team, a perennial powerhouse in collegiate swimming. Though recognized widely at the state level, Wilkens did not receive an athletic scholarship to Stanford.

Stanford University Enrolling at Stanford University around the Fall of 1994, and graduating with a degree in Political Science in the Spring of 1998, Wilkens was a key contributor to the Cardinal swim team under Hall of Fame Head Coach Skip Kenney. He helped lead Stanford to the NCAA team championship at Auburn University in March, 1998, where he won three events. Wilkens was also instrumental in leading Stanford to NCAA championship runner-up finishes in 1995 in Indianapolis where they placed second in team competition to the University of Michigan and in 1997 in Minneapolis where they placed second to Auburn University. Wilkens was one of only three swimmers in Stanford collegiate history to capture three NCAA championship titles in the same season. He was a sixteen-time All-American at Stanford,

Santa Clara swim club By August 1998, he trained with the competitive program at the Santa Clara Swim Club under Head Coach Dick Jochums in Santa Clara, continuing to swim there intermittently through the end of his career in 2004. Jochums, who had competed in the 200 Individual Medley as a collegiate swimmer at Washington University in St. Louis, later became known for coaching medley and stroke specialists.

International competition In elite international competition, Wilkens was highly accomplished, winning 10 medals, including three golds in medley competition from 1995 to 2002. As shown under Medal Record in the information box above, Wilkens captured a silver in the 200 IM at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in 2001, as well as a bronze in the 400 IM. At the 2002 World Championships in Moscow in the short-course competition, he was a recipient of a gold medal in the 400 IM, setting an American record.

Continuing to swim after the Olympics, Tom continued to serve as Captain of the US swim team through 2003, continuing to compete at an elite world level. He retired from elite competition around 2003, returning to his hometown of Middletown Township in 2004.

On his return to New Jersey, a parade was held in Wilkens's honor. One of the attendees at the parade was fellow New Jerseyan Connor Jaeger, a future 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 meter swim. Wilkens was also part of the 15-minute documentary from 2021, "The Water is My Sky", which described the challenges of the Olympic swimming experience and the Olympic swimming trials, directed by Tommy Haines and Brian Tremml. The documentary included coverage from Wilkens's former Santa Clara Swim Club Coach, Dick Jochums. It centered on the Olympic journeys of Wilkens, and two other Olympic swimmers with commentary from 1984 Olympic swimming gold medalist Rowdy Gaines. The documentary also includes coverage of 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 freestyle and New Jersey native Connor Jaeger. Wilkens was also featured in the 2000 broadcast television mini-series, "Sydney 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad", which consisted of former television coverage of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Honors In 2023, Wilkens was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the university's swimming program. As a result of his outstanding collegiate career, he was made one of only 26 swimmers who were recognized as a member of the Pac-10 All-Century Swim Team. In 1998, in his Senior year at Stanford, he was named Athlete of the Year in swimming by the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame. Wilkins was a recipient of the Kipputh Award in four years, an honor bestowed on the swimmer with the highest point total at the U.S. National Championships. According to one source, the Observer Online, Wilkens may have served a brief term as a Mayor of Middletown Township.

Swim coaching Beginning in 2016, Wilkins was a club coach with certification from USA swimming and worked with the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County. The age group levels he coached included 11-12 levels up to National Team age. An accomplished program, Monmouth County Swimmers have become Division I level collegiate competitors, and included YMCA National Champions, and several who qualified for the Olympic trials. Wilkens has also coached for his former team, the Red Oak YMCA.

He has resided in New Jersey with Stephanie, his wife, daughter Kasey and son Bryce. Bryce Wilkens swam for Fordham University and was a 2023 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy.