Rick Colella Cashes in on Second Chance at Bronze Medal

Feature by Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, September 2. SOMETIMES, life is all about second chances. That's exactly what Rick Colella got at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal; a second chance.

After finishing in dreaded fourth place in the 200 breast at the 1972 Munich Games, Colella was determined to stand on the podium at the next Olympics. Finishing just four tenths out of bronze medal position, he knew he could do better, and set out to do just that.

"I was disappointed, especially since it was not a best time, and my best time would have medaled," he said. "Of all the places you want to swim fast, the Olympics are kind of up there."

Following the Games, Rick went back to work. He finished his collegiate career at the University of Washington a year later, and continued to train for the next several years. After appearing at the Pan American Games and two World Championships, his moment had arrived, and this time, the story was much different. In a personal best of 2:19.20, a full five seconds faster than his fourth place time in Munich, Colella grabbed the bronze behind Great Britain's David Wilkie (2:15.11) and the United States' John Hencken (2:17.26).

"It was great to work so hard towards a goal and then accomplish it," he said.

Thirty-two years later, Colella is still racking up swimming awards, but in Masters swimming. At the USMS Long Course Nationals last month, he won three individual events in the men's 55-59 age group, setting two world records and a USMS record in the process. It should come as no surprise that one of his world records came in the 200 breast, where he erased Tim Shead from the books with a time of 2:38.66. His other world record came in the 200 IM (2:24.12), also rewriting a Shead mark.

"I guess I didn't really know how I'd do, but I was pleased. I was trying to get the 200 breast world record, but I was more surprised with my 200 IM," he said.

When he's not swimming, Colella works as an engineer at Boeing in Seattle, where he's been the past 32 years. He and his wife also have a non-profit organization called Friends of FSHD, which raises money for a form of muscular dystrophy that their 21-year old son has. Swimming provides a fun, motivational environment to escape to.

"It's a lot of fun. It's very low key in a way," he said. "The competitions are fun, and it's great seeing people I used to swim with."

For those that may wish to get information about the non-profit FSH Muscular Dystrophy, the organization name is Friends of FSH Research. The website is www.fshfriends.org

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