Rick Colella

Started swimming in 1960 when I was 8 years old in summer league and moved to year-round swimming that same year. I had some success early on and that inspired me to keep going. Other, older kids on the team also inspired me to want to keep improving. I attended my first Nationals at 15 and the 1968 Olympic Trials at 16. I made the Olympic Team in 1972, placing 4th in the 200 Br in Munich, then at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal I placed 3rd in the 200 Br. I attended my first master's meet in 1977.