History
Richard William Roth (born September 26, 1947) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events. He swam in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where he won the gold medal for his first-place finish in the men's 400-meter individual medley, setting a new world record of 4:45.4 in the event final. Shortly before the individual medley final, Roth suffered appendicitis but refused an immediate operation. He insisted the surgeons delay to allow him to swim in the final, and won the gold medal as a result.
​
Roth attended Stanford University. He was a two-time individual NCAA champion for the Stanford Cardinal swimming and diving team, winning the 200- and 400-yard individual medley.
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics final in the 400 meter individual medley looked like an Army sick call with almost as many doctors as coaches hovering around the swimmers.
On the night before the race, Dick had his appendix in ice packs and was told he must have an emergency operation. “No!” said Roth. “I’m not missing the Olympic final no matter what happens.” Former world record holder Gerhard Hetz of Germany had pneumonia, and Roy Saari (USA) had a very heavy cold that was causing him to have a sub par Olympics. They all swam. “I forgot my hot appendix during the race,” said Roth. He won the 400 IM setting a new Olympic and world record with Saari second and Hetz third. The five healthy finalists finishing behind.
Dick Roth’s world record lasted four years. He set seven American records between 1963 and 1967 during a period when the 200 meter individual medley was not recognized as a world record. This Santa Clara and Stanford swimmer won 12 nationals in his all stroke specialty as well as making the finals in backstroke and swimming on seven national relay winners for coaches George Haines and Jim Gaughran. His size 13 feet were too big for Japanese shoes and lots of swimmers could beat him at one of the individual strokes, but put the four in the pool together and versatile Dick Roth was King Richard of the I.M. for five years.
Sources:
Wikipedia contributors, "Dick Roth", Wikipedia, accessed June 9, 2023,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Roth.
Rutemiller, Brent. “From The ISHOF Induction Video Vault – 1964 Tokyo Olympic Champion Dick Roth (Vintage Race Footage)”, Swimming World, April 24, 2020, accessed June 9, 202., https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/ishof-induction-video-vault-1964-tokyo-olympics-gold-medalist-dick-roth/.
​
