Garrett Weber-Gale
Born August 6, 1985 Garrett Weber-Gale is an Olympic gold medalist originally from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The former NCAA Champion, American Record Holder and Olympian played soccer, basketball, golf and even sailed before focusing on swimming — the sport his mother competed in at Centenary College. Weber-Gale last competitive meet was at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel, and he currently works on his company, Athletic Foodie.
Age group swimming
Weber-Gale began swimming at the local YMCA as a young boy, but as his talent grew he turned to club swimming. In 2003 he set his first major record, the National Public High School Record in the 100-yard free, and went on to win four Wisconsin State Championships before committing to swim at the University of Texas.
University of Texas
2003-2004
After graduating from Nicolet High School in 2003 Weber-Gale began swimming for UT the following the season. The corporate communications major primarily swam sprint free and backstroke in his NCAA career, and earned All-America honors as a freshman. He anchored the 200-yard free relay to a 4th place finish, anchored the 200-yard medley relay to runner-up setting a new American Record and finished 14th in the 100-yard free. He won his first national title on the 400 medley relay.
2004-2005
As a sophomore Weber-Gale improved even further: on day 1 of the NCAA Championships he led his Texas relay to a 6th place finish, and finished 8th in the 50 yard free. Switching some events around, Weber-Gale swam the second leg on the 800-yard free relay, helped Texas finish 9th. On the last day of the NCAA meet, Weber-Gale took the top spot in the consolation final of the 100-yard free and finished his sophomore season by finishing 9th in the 400-yard free relay.
2005-2006
Weber-Gale saw tremendous growth his junior season. He won his first individual national title in the 100-yard free, and made the championship final in the 50-yard free finishing 7th, and picked up the top spot in the consolation final of the 100-yard back.
2006-2007
As a senior Weber-Gale had a tremendous season, finishing within the top eight in five of his six events. He picked up a silver on the 400-yard medley relay, a bronze in the 100-yard free, 5th on both the freestyle relays, 6th in the 50 yard free and 11th in the 100-yard back.
2004 U.S. Olympic Trials
After his first season as a collegiate swimmer, Weber-Gale competed at the 2004 Olympic Trials. That year he had won his first U.S. Nationals title in the 100-meter free, and the Trials he missed a roster spot on the Olympic Team by one place, when he finished in 7th place in the 100-meter free.
2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
After graduating from Texas in 2007, and winning his first U.S. National Title in 2004, up next for Weber-Gale was the 2008 Olympic Trials. He won both the 100-meter free and the 50-meter free, even setting a new American Record in the 50. He also touched the 100 in under 48 seconds, becoming the first American to do so.
2008 Beijing Olympics
Weber-Gale was a member of the now infamous 4×100-meter free relay that chased down France to help Michael Phelps win eight gold medals in one Olympic Games. He also won his second gold medal swimming in the heats of the 4×100-meter medley relay. Aside from his relay golds, Weber-Gale advanced to the semi-finals in both his individual events.
2009 World Championships
Going into the World Championships Weber-Gale had to get through the World Championship Trials. He finished 3rd in the 100-meter free and tied for 2nd in the 50 with Cullen Jones. The two had to battle it out in a swim-off, which Jones won to take back Weber-Gale’s American Record.
In Rome Weber-Gale swam the leadoff leg of the 4×100-meter free relay, which helped the American squad come to a 1st place finish.
2010-2011 World Championships
Competing in short course meters, Weber-Gale helped the U.S. Team score a gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay in World Record fashion and a silver in the 4×200-meter free relay. The following year, Weber-Gale represented the U.S. in Shanghai, where he earned a bronze on the 4×100 medley relay and a bronze in the 400 free relay — he also finished the meet with the second-fastest relay split in the entire meet (100-meter free).
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials
One year after posting one of the fastest relay splits in the world, Weber-Gale was ready for the 2012 Trials. He continued with his 2011 training, which was much more strength focused, and prepared for his primary events, the 50, 100 and 200-meter free. In the 100, Weber-Gale touched in 7th in the championship final just two spots away for qualifying for another Olympic Games where he would’ve been a relay-only swimmer. He followed up his swim by finishing 14th in the 50, and failed to move on in the event.
Retirement
Although Weber-Gale’s last meet was in 2013, he has not pulled himself out of the drug testing pool. This allows him to be eligible for major competitions including the World Championships and the Olympic Games. And even though Weber-Gale has been spending the majority of his time working on Athletic Foodie, he hasn’t discounted the possibility of returning to the water.
Athletic Foodie
In 2009 Weber-Gale began working on Athletic Foodie, his company that provides proper nutrition options for athletes. He started the company after being diagnosed with High Blood Pressure, and due to strict drug regulations, Weber-Gale had to be extremely careful on which medications he was prescribed and ultimately chose to address the issue by changing his diet.
