Raiko Pachel

{{short description|Estonian swimmer}}

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Raiko Pachel

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nicknames =

| national_team = {{EST}}

| strokes = Breaststroke

| club = Keila Swim Club

| coach = Tõnu Meijel

| collegeteam =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|6|2|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Tallinn, Estonia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.92|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|87|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| medaltemplates =

| show-medals = yes

| updated =

}}

Raiko Pachel (born 2 June 1974) is an Estonian former swimmer, who specialized in breaststroke events.{{cite sports-reference|title = Raiko Pachel|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pa/raiko-pachel-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418024102/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pa/raiko-pachel-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 April 2020|access-date = 3 June 2013}} He is a single-time Olympian (2000), a double Baltic States swimming champion, and a former Estonian record holder in both 100 and 200 m breaststroke.{{cite news|title=Raiko Pachel ujus isikliku rekordi|trans-title=Raiko Pachel swam his personal best|language=Estonian|url=http://www.epl.ee/news/melu/raiko-pachel-ujus-isikliku-rekordi.d?id=50770478|publisher=Eesti Päevaleht|date=3 April 1999|accessdate=3 June 2013}} Pachel is also a member of Keila Swim Club in Tallinn under head coach Tõnu Meijel. His older brother is swimmer Marko Pachel.

Pachel competed in a breaststroke double at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He achieved FINA B-standards of 1:03.39 (100 m breaststroke) and 2:18.45 (200 m breaststroke) from the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland.{{cite web|title=Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 6)|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000100060013000000FFFFFFFFFFFF00|format=PDF|work=Sydney 2000|publisher=Omega Timing|accessdate=23 April 2013}}{{cite web|title=Swimming – Men's 200m Breaststroke Startlist (Heat 3)|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000100060016000000FFFFFFFFFFFF00|format=PDF|work=Sydney 2000|publisher=Omega Timing|accessdate=23 April 2013}}{{cite news|last=Põldoja|first=Ants|title=Raiko Pachel jõudis poolfinaali|trans-title=Raiko Pachel reached the semifinals|language=Estonian|url=http://www.ohtuleht.ee/93787|publisher=Õhtuleht|date=7 July 2000|accessdate=3 June 2013}} In the 100 m breaststroke, held on the first day of the Games, Pachel challenged seven other swimmers in heat six, including Australia's top favorite and former bronze medalist Phil Rogers. He rounded out a field to last place in his heat, but shared a thirty-second overall seed with Israel's Tal Stricker in a matching time of 1:03.99.{{cite web|title=Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 100m Breaststroke Heat 6 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |work=Sydney 2000 |publisher=LA84 Foundation |page=242 |accessdate=23 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819181023/http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |archivedate=19 August 2011 }}{{cite news|last=Newberry|first=Paul|title=Thompson anchors U.S. relay win; Thorpe wins 400 free|url=http://www.canoe.ca/2000GamesSwimming/sep16_tho.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615211705/http://www.canoe.ca/2000GamesSwimming/sep16_tho.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 15, 2013|publisher=Canoe.ca|date=16 September 2000|accessdate=28 May 2013}} Four days later, in the 200 m breaststroke, Pachel placed thirty-third on the morning prelims. Swimming in heat three, he picked up a third spot to overhaul a 2:20 barrier ahead of El Salvador's Francisco Suriano by almost half a second (0.50) in 2:19.71.{{cite web|title=Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 200m Breaststroke Heat 3 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |work=Sydney 2000 |publisher=LA84 Foundation |page=250 |accessdate=23 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819181023/http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sw/SWresults.pdf |archivedate=19 August 2011 }}{{cite news|title=Wide-open race in the men's 100 free|url=http://www.canoe.ca/2000GamesSwimming/sep19_wid.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615164701/http://www.canoe.ca/2000GamesSwimming/sep19_wid.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 15, 2013|publisher=Canoe.ca|date=18 September 2000|accessdate=3 June 2013}}