Passages: 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist Thomas Bruce, 67

Thomas Bruce, who won two medals at the 1972 Olympic Games, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Bruce died April 9, but his family made public the passing this week.

Bruce was a native of Red Bluff, California. He attended UCLA, where he won the 1972 NCAA championship in the 100 breaststroke. Bruce parlayed that into a third-place finish at the AAU championships that year. At the Munich Olympics, Bruce earned the silver medal in the 100 breast, with Japan’s Nobutaka Taguchi winning the final in a world-record 1:04.94. Bruce was second in 1:05.43 with American’s John Hencken and Mark Chatfield following.

Bruce swam breaststroke in the 400 medley relay final, teaming with Mike Stamm, Mark Spitz and Jerry Heidenreich to win gold in 3:48.16, a world record.

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Dan Stephenson

3 years ago

Bruin legend. RIP.

Paul Robbins

3 years ago

Great athlete and a fierce rival to David Wilkie.