Elliot Chenaux (born April 11, 1947) is a former academic and competitive swimmer for Rutgers University who competed with the Puerto Rican team in the 1964 Summer Olympics.[1] He also swam for Puerto Rico in the Pan American Games in São Paulo in 1963 and in Winnipeg in 1967.[2]

Elliot Chenaux
Personal information
Born (1947-04-11) April 11, 1947 (age 77)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
Strokesfreestyle, breaststroke, medley
College teamRutgers University
CoachFrank Elm
(Rutgers)
Medal record
Representing  Puerto Rico
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 1966 San Juan 4x100m freestyle relay

Swimming for Rutgers edit

Chenaux swam for Rutgers University under Hall of Fame Coach Frank Elm, and was in the class of 1968.[3] Swimming for Rutgers in an opening meet against Columbia in December 1966, Chenaux won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:27.2, and was on a winning 400 medley relay team.[4] In 1967, showing stroke diversity, he broke the Rutgers school record in the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:04.8.[5] On February 11, 1967, swimming for Rutgers, he set a pool record of 5:11.3 in the 500 freestyle.[6]

1964 Tokyo Olympics edit

Though he did not swim in the Olympic finals, Chenaux swam in the preliminary heats of the 1500-meter freestyle, the 200-meter back and breaststroke events, and the 400-meter Individual Medley, a signature event where he had his best finish placing 21st with a 5:11.3, about 10 seconds behind Gold medal finalist Dick Roth of the United States. Elliot's brother Robert competed for Puerto Rico in the 1960 Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle.[2][7][8]

Later education and career edit

After completing a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a doctorate in Hispanic Languages and Literature from St. Louis University, Chenaux moved in 1976 to Corpus Christi where he worked as a faculty member at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, beginning as a Spanish professor around 1981. Moving from his initial role as an assistant professor of Spanish in 1981, he advanced to a position as the Dean of Students, and then served as the Vice President for Student Affairs. He retired in 2014.[9]

Staying active in the athletic community, in late June, 1989, Chenaux conducted a seminar in swimming at the Corpus Christi Athletic Club.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Elliot Chenaux". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Elliott Chenaux Olympic Biography". Olympedia. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Rutger's Mens Swimming and Diving History". scarletknights.com. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Rutgers Swim Team Opens Season With 58-37 Victory", The Central New Jersey Home News, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 8 December 1966, pg. 27
  5. ^ "Colgate Swimmers Nip Rutgers", The Central New Jersey Home News, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 19 February 1967, pg. 29
  6. ^ "Rutgers Stops Lehigh Mermen," The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 12 February 1967, pg. 16
  7. ^ "1964 Tokyo Olympics, 400 IM Medley Results". Olympedia. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. ^ "1960 Olympics, 400-meter Freestyle Results". Olympedia. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Dr. Eliot Chenaux Announced as Island University Summer Commencement Speaker Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi". tamucc.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-10-15.
  10. ^ "CC Athletic Club Slates Seminars, Competitions", Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Corpus Christi, Texas, 22 June 1989, pg. 32