Jeff Float

Who is Jeff Float?

Jeffrey James Float is an American former competition swimmer, world record holder, world champion and Olympic gold medalist. He qualified for the 1980 Moscow-bound Olympic Swimming Team, which was boycotted by the U.S., and four years later competed at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. There he was named team captain by his peers, earned a gold medal in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay, and finished fourth in the men's 200-meter freestyle event.

At 13 months of age, Float lost most of his hearing and nearly his life to viral meningitis. As the result, he is 90% deaf in his right ear and 65% in his left. He became the first legally deaf athlete from the United States to win an Olympic gold medal. When he emerged from the pool after swimming the third leg for the U.S. team in the 4x200-meter relay and shattering the world record by five seconds, he heard the roar of the crowd. "It was the first time I remember distinctively hearing loud cheers at a meet. I'll never forget what 17,000 screaming people sounds like. It was incredible!" Float said.