At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, he captured four Gold Medals, one Silver, and broke four World Records. His World marks in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke lasted an amazing seven years after his retirement.
During his athletic career he won 25 National AAU titles, and won a record 10 NCAA individual titles (in 12 swims), while leading his team to four undefeated seasons, and in 1977, he won the 1977 James E. Sullivan Award as our Nation's Outstanding Amateur Athlete.
In 1984 he carried the Olympic Flag into the Opening Ceremonies of the Los Angeles Games, and was elected into the United States Olympic Committee Hall of Fame.
The Centennial Games in Atlanta marked his fifth Olympic broadcast. He worked as a sports commentator at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea, as well as the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France and Lillehammer, Norway.
In a recent nationwide USA Today contest, he was elected as the male co-captain of the 100 Golden Olympians, an all-star group of many of America's most famous Olympic champions, including Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Mark Spitz and Muhammad Ali.
John Naber remains in demand as a television personality. He has served as play-by-play host for over 30 different Olympic sports, including his work on ABC's Wide World of Sports for gymnastics, weightlifting, equestrian and skiing events. He has also worked with national cable companies, hosting shows like the Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour and the "Great College Rivalries" series on ESPN and ESPN2, as well as the Winter Olympic coverage for Turner Broadcasting.
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