text: david larson david erwin larson ( born june 25 , 1959 ) is an american former competition swimmer who is an olympic gold medalist and former world record - holder . larson is a georgia native who became an all - american college swimmer for the university of florida . he was known for his success as a member of american relay teams in international competition at the pan american games and the olympics – and for setting two world records in the 4 × 200 - meter relay event on the same day at the 1984 olympics . early years larson was born in the small town of jesup , georgia in 1959 . he started swimming as an age - group competitor in 1963 . he attended the bolles school in jacksonville , florida , where he swam for the bolles high school swim team . he graduated from bolles in 1977 . college swimming career larson accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the university of florida in gainesville , florida , where he swam for the florida gators swimming and diving team in national collegiate athletic association ( ncaa ) and southeastern conference ( sec ) competition under coach randy reese from 1978 to 1981 . larson won two ncaa championships at florida in the 800 - yard freestyle relay ( 1979 , 1981 ) , setting american and ncaa records in the process . he finished second in the 200 - yard freestyle to rowdy gaines of auburn in 1981 , but then out - swam gaines on the final leg of the 800 - yard freestyle relay to claim the ncaa championship in the event . larson earned twenty - one all - american honors and was national record holder in the 400 - yard freestyle relay . larson graduated from the university of florida with a bachelor 's degree in sociology in 1987 , and was later inducted into the university of florida athletic hall of fame as a " gator great . " international swimming career larson was first selected for the u.s. national swim team for the 1979 pan american games held in san juan , puerto rico . in what would become a regular match - up , larson earned a silver medal in the men 's 200 - meter freestyle for his second - place finish ( 1 : 52 . 24 ) behind american teammate rowdy gaines ( 1 : 51 . 22 ) . two days later , larson and gaines combined with fellow americans brian goodell and kris kirchner to win a pan american games gold medal in the 4 × 200 - meter freestyle relay ( 7 : 31 . 28 ) . he qualified for the u.s. olympic team in 1980 , as a member of the u.s. team in the men 's 4 × 200 - meter freestyle relay , but was unable to compete because of the united states - led boycott of the 1980 summer olympics held in moscow . after completing his college career in 1981 , larson was tired of swimming and quit , only to return to competition a year later because he missed the focus . larson continued his training with the program that coach randy reese had created for post - college swimmers in gainesville , florida . at the 1983 pan american games in caracas , venezuela , he again won a gold medal as a member of the winning u.s. team in the men 's 200 - meter freestyle relay , together with richard saeger , bruce hayes and rowdy gaines ( 7 : 23 . 63 ) . larson represented the united states at the 1984 summer olympics in los angeles . in the preliminary heats of the men 's 4 × 200 - meter freestyle relay , he and u.s. teammates geoff , hayes and saeger set a new world record of 7 : 18 . 87 . but the new record was short - lived . later that same afternoon , larson won the gold medal in the event final of the 4 × 200 - meter freestyle relay , together with his american teammates mike heath , jeff float and hayes , by defeating the michael gross - anchored west german team by four one - hundredths ( 0 . 04 ) of a second , and setting yet another new world record of 7 : 15 . 69 in the process . the american media dubbed the four swimmers the " gross busters , " a play on the title of the popular 1984 movie ghostbusters . in the aftermath of the 1984 olympics , larson retired from competitive swimming at the age of 25 . life after swimming after the post - olympic national celebrations , larson was offered an opportunity to work in sports marketing in new york city . his early professional career involved dealings with agents , creating event sponsorships , and negotiating athlete contracts . he spent the next decade working in sports marketing , then in television . he worked with nbc on its olympic broadcasts , including the 2005 winter games . larson and his wife kitty , a miami lawyer , have a son . world records men 's 4 × 200 - meter medley relay