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Alexander MEYER
Sport Open Water Swimming
NOC United States   
GenderMen
Born05 Jul 1988
Height1.80 m
Weight 70 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Biology - Harvard University: Cambridge, MA, USA
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
His mother was a swim coach and while she was coaching he did not want to stay at home with a babysitter, so she took him along with her and made him start swimming.
General Interest
Most influential person in career
US swimmer Fran Crippen. (usaswimming.org, 17 Jul 2013)
Hero / Idol
US open water swimmer Fran Crippen, who he shared a room with during competition. Crippen died during an open water swim in 2010. (usaswimming.org, 17 Jul 2013)
Awards and honours
In 2011 and 2013 he received the Fran Crippen Memorial Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year award from USA Swimming. (gocrimson.com, 2012; washingtonpost.com, 15 Sep 2013)

He was named Breakout Swimmer of the Year at the 2011 Golden Goggles Awards. (usaswimming.org, 20 Nov 2011)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began swimming at age seven.
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"[Endurance swimmers are] very proud of what we do. Sprinters get all the fame, they get all the glory. But we know that we're badder than anybody else. We're happy with that, embracing that culture, the lifestyle of an endurance athlete." (boston.com, 23 May 2012)
Further Personal Information
Residence
Knoxville, TN, USA
General Interest
Famous relatives
His parents were college swimmers. (usaswimming.org, 17 Jul 2013)
Further Personal Information
Languages
English
General Interest
Other information
RETIREMENT
He retired from competitive open water swimming in August 2016. (swimswam.com, 04 Aug 2016)

 Competition Highlights
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
11 2015 Kazan, RUS 5km 55:25.3
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 25km 4:53:15.1
42 2013 Barcelona, ESP 10km 1:51:01.8
4 2013 Barcelona, ESP 25km 4:47:28.2
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 10km 1:54:33.1
  2011 Shanghai, CHN 25km  DNS
  2009 Rome, ITA 25km  DSQ
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2016 Viedma, ARG 10km 1:55:44
3 2015 Setúbal, POR 10km 1:55:00.00
21 2014 Cancún, MEX 10km 1:57:14
1 2014 Lac Magoc, QC, CAN 10km 1:55:10.63
38 2013 San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX 10km 2:01:43.80
4 2012 Lac St. Jean, QC, CAN 10km 1:57:42
3 2011 Cancún, MEX 10km 1:54:04
4 2010 Cancún, MEX 10km 2:08:05.3
4 2010 Lac St. Jean, QC, CAN 10km 2:05:46.6
1 2010 Shantou, CHN 10km 1:55:30.39
Pan Pacific Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2014 Maui, HI, USA 10km 1:53:00.0
  2010 Irvine, CA, USA 10km  DNF