Ricky Berens
Encyclopedia
Richard Berens (born April 21, 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina
) is an American
Olympic swimmer.
, Berens won a gold medal in the 4x100 m medley, and silver medals in both the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x200 m freestyle relays.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
, Berens won the gold medal in the men's 4x200 m freestyle relay
with Michael Phelps
, Ryan Lochte
, and Peter Vanderkaay
, setting a new world record of 6:58.56. Berens swam the third leg in a time of 1:46.29. Berens was the only member of the finals team to swim in the preliminary heats, posting a time of 1:45.47, just faster than Klete Keller
's 1:45.51, to be selected to swim in the final.
Berens swam the third leg of the 4x100 m freestyle
preliminaries at the 2009 World Championships
in Rome
and earned a gold medal when the US placed first in the final. Berens also swam in both the preliminaries and final of the 4x200 m freestyle
, which won gold. In the final, Berens swam the second leg in 1:44.13, the second fastest split from anyone in the event.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Olympic swimmer.
Career
At the 2007 Pan American Games2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
, Berens won a gold medal in the 4x100 m medley, and silver medals in both the 4x100 m freestyle and 4x200 m freestyle relays.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, Berens won the gold medal in the men's 4x200 m freestyle relay
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.-Qualification summary:-Heats:-Final:...
with Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
, Ryan Lochte
Ryan Lochte
Ryan Steven Lochte is an American swimmer and a six-time Olympic medalist . As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay...
, and Peter Vanderkaay
Peter Vanderkaay
Peter Vanderkaay is an American middle-distance freestyle swimmer. He is a three-time Olympic medalist.-Personal life:...
, setting a new world record of 6:58.56. Berens swam the third leg in a time of 1:46.29. Berens was the only member of the finals team to swim in the preliminary heats, posting a time of 1:45.47, just faster than Klete Keller
Klete Keller
Klete Keller is an American freestyle swimmer who won medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 400 m freestyle and the 4x200 m freestyle relay. In the 4x200 m freestyle relay, Keller held off a charging Ian Thorpe in the anchor leg to win the race by 0.13 seconds...
's 1:45.51, to be selected to swim in the final.
Berens swam the third leg of the 4x100 m freestyle
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4x100m freestyle relay
The men's 4×100 m freestyle relay at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships took place on 26 July 2009 at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.-Records:The existing records when the event started were:-Heats:-Final:-External links:**...
preliminaries at the 2009 World Championships
2009 World Aquatics Championships
The 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and earned a gold medal when the US placed first in the final. Berens also swam in both the preliminaries and final of the 4x200 m freestyle
Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 4x200m freestyle relay
The men's 4×200 metre freestyle relay at the 2009 World Championships took place on July 31, 2009 at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. 30 countries entered the event, of which 27 swam.-Records:The existing records when the event started were:-Heats:...
, which won gold. In the final, Berens swam the second leg in 1:44.13, the second fastest split from anyone in the event.