Vladimir Salnikov
First under 15 minutes for 1500 m freestyle, and Olympic champion again at 28
Overview
Salnikov clocked 14:58.27 at the 1980 Moscow Games to break the 15 minute barrier, adding the 400 m freestyle title in the same meet. Denied the 1984 Games by the Soviet boycott, he returned at Seoul 1988 to win the 1500 m at age 28, one of swimming great comebacks. He set multiple world records across middle and long distance freestyle.
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