Ben-Rachmiel Labowitch (born 1 July 1980) is a New Zealand former swimmer, who specialized in breaststroke events.[1] Since his mother is a New Zealand citizen, Labowitch claims a dual citizenship which allowed him to try out and make the New Zealand Olympic team.[2] Labowitch is also a former member of North Shore Swim Club under his coach Thomas Ensorg, and a graduate of Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where he played for the Drury Panthers.[3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ben-Rachmiel Labowitch |
| National team |  New Zealand |
| Born | 1 July 1980 Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia |
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Breaststroke |
| Club | North Shore Swim Club |
| College team | Drury University (U.S.) |
| Coach | Thomas Ansorg |
Labowitch qualified for three swimming events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He posted FINA B-standard entry times of 1:04.35 (100 m breaststroke) and 2:18.10 (200 m breaststroke) from the Olympic trials in Auckland.[4][5][6] On the first day of the Games, Labowitch shared a thirty-sixth place tie with Puerto Rico's Arsenio López in the 100 m breaststroke. Swimming in heat three, he edged out Lithuania's Aurimas Valaitis to break a 1:04 barrier and seize a third seed by 0.12 of a second in 1:03.99.[7][8] In his second event, 200 m breaststroke, Labowitch challenged seven other swimmers in heat two, including dual citizen Mihail Alexandrov of Bulgaria. He raced to seventh place and thirty-ninth overall in 2:19.25, just 1.15 seconds off his entry time.[9][10] He also teamed up with Scott Talbot-Cameron, Corney Swanepoel, and Cameron Gibson in the 4 × 100 m medley relay. Swimming the breaststroke leg in heat two, Labowitch recorded a time of 1:03.88, but the New Zealand team missed the final by 5 seconds, finishing in seventh place and twelfth overall with a final time of 3:42.74.[11][12]
References edit
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ben Labowitch". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ Hayes, Jeron (14 October 2010). "Marine Captain was Olympic contender". DC Military. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ "A Time: President's Report 2004". Drury University. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 3)". Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Swimming – Men's 200m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 2)". Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "NZ Olympic Team Profiles: Swimming". TVNZ. 30 June 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ "Men's 100m Breaststroke Heat 3". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ Whitten, Phillip (14 August 2004). "Prelims, Men's 100 Breaststroke: Kitajima, Hansen Qualify One-Two; Japanese Sets Olympic Record". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Men's 200m Breaststroke Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (17 August 2004). "Men's 200 Breaststroke Prelims, Day 4: 15 Year-Old Daniel Gyurta Continues the Hungarian Tradition, Leads with a Swift 2:11.29". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ^ "Men's 4×100m Medley Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Stephen (20 August 2004). "Men's 400 Medley Relay, Prelims Day 7: USA Looks Absolutely Unbeatable; Expect a World Record!". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.