Peter Rocca
Encyclopedia
Peter Rocca is a former international backstroke
swimmer
from the United States
. Peter broke onto the international swimming scene winning two gold medals in the Men's Backstroke events (100m and 4 x 100m Medley Relay) at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City
, Mexico
. Peter participated for his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
, Canada
, where he claimed two silver medals in the Men's Backstroke events (100m and 200m). Rocca continued to swim after "Montréal" - two years later he won the silver medal in the men's 100m backstroke event at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships
in Berlin
, West Germany
. The next year, he again represented the US Men's Swim Team at the 1979 Pan American Games
in San Juan
, Puerto Rico
winning the 200m Backstroke in the World's best time. In 1980, Rocca qualified for the Olympic team in both the 100m and 200m Backstroke races and was elected team Captain only to have his culminating performances dashed by the US boycotting of the 1980 Olympic Games
in Moscow
.
Rocca, of Cal/Berkeley, was one of the top backstrokers in the world from 1975 through 1980 and competed in the eras of Roland Matthes
and John Naber
finishing second to Naber in both backstroke events at the 1976 Olympics and beating Mathes in the 100m. Collegiately, Rocca led a resurgence of the Golden Bears men's swim program, captaining and winning individual and the Team titles his senior year in 1979. Additionally, he won seven USS titles; five individual and two relays.
At the age of 27, and after three years out of the water, Rocca made a valiant Olympic comeback effort in 1984. At the Trials, he fell short from achieving this goal, finishing 4th in the 200m and 3rd in the 100m Backsroke races.
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Peter broke onto the international swimming scene winning two gold medals in the Men's Backstroke events (100m and 4 x 100m Medley Relay) at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Peter participated for his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he claimed two silver medals in the Men's Backstroke events (100m and 200m). Rocca continued to swim after "Montréal" - two years later he won the silver medal in the men's 100m backstroke event at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships
1978 World Aquatics Championships
The 1978 World Aquatics Championships took place in West Berlin, West Germany between August 20 and August 28, 1978.-Medals table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men-External links:***...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. The next year, he again represented the US Men's Swim Team at the 1979 Pan American Games
1979 Pan American Games
The 8th Pan American Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15, 1979. The capital of Puerto Rico played host to 3,700 athletes from 34 countries competing in 22 sports, making the VIII Pan American Games the largest to date. Security was a concern due to turmoil over the...
in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
winning the 200m Backstroke in the World's best time. In 1980, Rocca qualified for the Olympic team in both the 100m and 200m Backstroke races and was elected team Captain only to have his culminating performances dashed by the US boycotting of the 1980 Olympic Games
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Rocca, of Cal/Berkeley, was one of the top backstrokers in the world from 1975 through 1980 and competed in the eras of Roland Matthes
Roland Matthes
Roland Matthes is a German Olympic backstroke swimmer.-Swimming career:Roland Matthes is the most successful backstroke swimmer of all times. In a period of seven years he won all backstroke competitions he entered...
and John Naber
John Naber
John Phillips Naber is a former American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke and five-time Olympic medallist .-Career:...
finishing second to Naber in both backstroke events at the 1976 Olympics and beating Mathes in the 100m. Collegiately, Rocca led a resurgence of the Golden Bears men's swim program, captaining and winning individual and the Team titles his senior year in 1979. Additionally, he won seven USS titles; five individual and two relays.
At the age of 27, and after three years out of the water, Rocca made a valiant Olympic comeback effort in 1984. At the Trials, he fell short from achieving this goal, finishing 4th in the 200m and 3rd in the 100m Backsroke races.