Profiling David A. Radcliff

Dave Radcliff returned to swimming after a 38 year hiatus in April of 1995. The former All-American in high school (1951) and at UC Berkeley (1954 and 1955) and member of the 1956 US Olympic Swim Team (1500-meters) is thoroughly enjoying Masters swimming. One of his favorite experiences came at the 1996 SCY Nationals at De Anza College. In the 500 free he stood on the blocks beside Buddy Belshe. Exactly 45 years earlier he had stood on the blocks beside Buddy in the finals of the Southern California CIF Championships in the 200 free.

Renewal of old friends and the making of many new friends has been the biggest plus in getting back into Master swimming. He finds it hard to believe that his first Masters All-American ranking came in the 50-meter free. Everyone knows that distance swimmers can't sprint. Hard workouts under coach Ben Davis of the Tualatin Hills Barracudas in Oregon are gradually bringing back his distance swimming.

His times in the 400 free, 800 free and open water swim at the Pan Pacific Championships in 1997 reflected this improvement. Dave is involved in the Oregon LMSC as the co-editor of their newsletter. At the 1997 convention he was elected the zone rep for the Northwest. Before retirement Dave taught, coached and was an administrator at a high school in Southern California. Living an active retirement life in Oregon with Nancy, his wife of 39 years, swimming and watching his two grand kids grow up is the greatest.

David A. Radcliff lives in Hillsboro, Ore., and swims for Oregon.