Bruce Hayes
Born in Sarasota, Florida, and raised in San Antonio, Hayes was an outstanding Texas age-group swimmer, setting numerous TAGS records. He capped a successful high school career at Highland Park High School under Coach Mike Sorrells, winning a state championship in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. He was a major force in UCLA’s 1982 NCAA championship, scoring more points than any other freshman at the meet. He competed for the United States at the 1982 World Championships; he won three U.S. national titles, seven medals at the 1983 World University Games and three golds at the 1983 Pan American Games. The highlight of his career came when he anchored the 4x200 free relay at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. His come-from-behind effort on the anchor leg won gold and set a new world record for the U.S., edging West Germany’s Michael Gross by .04 seconds and earning him the 1984 Phillips 66 Performance of the Year award. Hayes has continued swimming and is the holder of several Masters world records. He lives in New York City pursuing his career in public relations.
