Mike Troy was a double Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record holder, an NCAA champion, and an AAU Champion. Mike was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Indiana University Hall of Fame, and the Helms Arco Hall of Fame. He was a teacher, a mentor, and an inspiration to all those who admired his dedication to the sport he loved since the age of 8.
Mike began swimming competitively at the age of 12. He won two Gold Medals in the 1960 Olympic Games for the USA in the 200-meter Butterfly and the 800-meter Freestyle relay. Mike was a multi-time World and American Record holder and World and National Champion in Freestyle and Butterfly. With a college degree from Indiana University, he became a naval officer and joined the Navy Underwater Demolition/SEALS. He was nominated for the Silver Star award for distinguished and heroic service in Vietnam.
As a coach, Mike developed many age group, junior, and senior champions. Over fifty of his swimmers were on national and international teams, including four swimmers he coached to Olympic Championship. Mike served as Chairman of the International Section of the Olympic Committee and Vice President of the American Swimming Coaches Association. Mike also served as the National Director of the USA Paralympic Swimming Team. He accompanied the team to Athens, Greece in September 2004 where the USA Paralympic team won numerous medals. He was also named the 2004 National Teacher of the Year from the United States Swim School Association (USSSA).
Mike wanted to focus on teaching people of all ages and disabilities a sport that can save their lives - swimming. He felt he came full circle from learning to swim, swimming competitively, coaching others, and then back to where it all began.
