Dave Gillanders

Who is Dave Gillanders?

John David Gillanders is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder. He represented the United States at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, where he won a bronze medal in the men's 200-meter butterfly, finishing behind fellow American Mike Troy and Australian Neville Hayes.

Gillanders attended the University of Michigan, where he swam for the Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association competition. He won the gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games in the 200-meter butterfly. He won NCAA individual championships in both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events in 1959 and 1961, and was a member of the Michigan Wolverines team that won the NCAA championship in the 400-yard medley relay in 1959.

He still continues to swim in Masters swimming competitions where has been in the top ten of his age group for most of the last 35 years. He set a world record in the short course 100-meter butterfly in 1986 for the 45-49 age group. Most recently he placed in the top ten of several events during the 2010 USMS Spring National Championships in May and in the Summer Championships in August.