Richard "Oz" Hortness
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Born: May 23 1985
Current Residence: Las Vegas,NV
Hometown: Medicine Hat, AB Canada
College: University of Nevada Las Vegas
Coach: Kunio Kono, Peter Schori
Sprint freestyle specialist Richard Hortness is a 23-year-old native of Medicine Hat, Alberta. At the 2008 CN Swimming Trials, Richard placed first in the men's 50 Freestyle event making the cut for his first Olympic games, two days after qualifying for the alternate spot on the 4x100m Freestyle Relay.
Having started summer club swimming at the age of 10 he quickly learned how to race and had continued with this spirit into his current races. He is currently training with the University of Nevada Las Vegas swim team in Las Vegas while working towards his degree in secondary science education. He trains on average nine times a week, equaling approximately twenty-three hours. After his graduation in December of 2009 he will move back to Canada to round out this quadrennial in preparation for London 2012. In the future he plans to use his degree to become a high school biology teacher in Canada.
Richard recognizes his parents as some of the most influential people in his life and is thankful for them and his sister always supporting him and his swimming. Richard also shows a strong interest in cooking and mountain and road biking, both of which he has put on hold for the time being in order to focus on his swimming.
Richard specializes in the 50 and 100 freestyle. In Beijing he was not brought up to swim on the relay but placed 27th in a best time of 22.42.
Career Bests as of April 8th 2009
50 Freestyle SCM: 21.97
100 Freestyle SCM: 48.93
50 Freestyle LCM: 22.42
100 Freestyle LCM: 49.92
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