Randall Bal
{{Short description|American swimmer (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name = Randall Bal
| image = Randall Bal, Vienna2008.jpg
| image_size = 240
| alt =
| caption = Bal in 2008
| fullname = Randall Bal
| nicknames = Turbo
| national_team = {{USA}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|11|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fair Oaks, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = 6 ft 4 in
| weight = 195 lb
| strokes = Backstroke
| club =
| coach =
| collegeteam = Stanford University
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | the United States}}
{{MedalCompetition | World Championships (LC)}}
{{MedalGold | 2001 Fukuoka | 50 m backstroke}}
{{MedalGold | 2003 Barcelona | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalGold | 2005 Montreal | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | 2003 Barcelona | 4×100 m freestyle}}
{{MedalSilver | 2005 Montreal | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalCompetition | World Championships (SC)}}
{{MedalSilver | 2006 Shanghai | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | 2008 Manchester | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalSilver | 2008 Manchester | 4×100 m medley}}
{{MedalBronze | 2006 Shanghai | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalBronze | 2006 Shanghai | 4×100 m freestyle}}
{{MedalCompetition | Pan Pacific Championships}}
{{MedalSilver | 2002 Yokohama | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalCompetition | Pan American Games}}
{{MedalGold | 2007 Rio | 100 m backstroke}}
{{MedalGold | 2007 Rio | 4×100 m medley}}
}}
Randall Bal (born November 14, 1980) is an American swimmer who specialized in the backstroke. He is a former world record holder in the 50-meter backstroke (long and short course).
He has won a total of thirteen medals in major international competition, five golds, six silvers, and two bronze spanning the World Championships, the Pan American Games, and the Pan Pacific Championships.{{Cite web|title=Randall BAL {{!}} Results {{!}} FINA Official|url=https://www.fina.org/athletes/1003986/www.fina.org/athletes/1003986/randall-bal|access-date=2021-10-22|website=FINA - Fédération Internationale De Natation|language=en}}
Personal
Bal was born in Fair Oaks, California in 1980, the son of Adrian and Carol Bal. His younger sister, Tamara, swam at UCLA. Bal attended Bella Vista High School where he graduated in 1999. From there, he swam for Stanford University, class of 2003, and graduated with a degree in psychology.
Swimming career
At the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships in Manchester, he took the silver medal in the 100 Back, but he finished a surprising sixth (his PB would have won the event) in the 50 Back. He won another silver on the medley relay. He was the top qualifier in the 100 Back at the 2008 Olympic Trials, in both the preliminaries and semi-finals, with the then-third fastest time ever in the semis (53.09), but he faded to fourth in the finals,{{cite news |last1=Tillotson |first1=Jason |title=The Little-Known Legend of Randall Bal and Hayley McGregory |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/the-little-known-legend-of-randall-bal-and-hayley-mcgregory/ |access-date=21 August 2021 |work=Swimming World News |agency=Sports Publications, Inc. |date=17 October 2016}} finishing behind Aaron Peirsol, who set a new World Record of 52.89, Matt Grevers, and Ryan Lochte.{{cite news |title=Peirsol and Coughlin break two backstroke records |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20080702-peirsol-coughlin-break-two-backstroke-records-swimming-us-selections-olympics |access-date=21 August 2021 |work=France 24 |date=2 July 2008 |language=en}} In 2008 Randall broke both the World Record (24.33 LCM & 22.87 SCM) in the 50 backstroke and missed the 100 LCM backstroke World Record by .04 of a second. He trained in northern California.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{World Aquatics}}
- {{USA Swimming|new_id=randall-bal|archive=20210602224359}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810181732/http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-swim/mtt/bal_randall00.html |date=August 10, 2011 |title=Randall Bal – Stanford University athlete bio}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before=
Peter Marshall|title=Men's 50-meter backstroke
world record-holder (short course)|years= November 15, 2008 – October 17, 2009|after=
Peter Marshall|rec}}
{{succession box|before=
Liam Tancock|title=Men's 50-meter backstroke
world record-holder (long course)|years= December 5, 2008 – August 1, 2009|after=
Liam Tancock|rec}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before=Ryk Neethling|title=Male World Cup Overall Winner|years=2007|after=Cameron van der Burgh}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer World LC Champions 50m Backstroke Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 100 m Backstroke Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x100 m Medley Men}}
{{Footer NCAA Division I men's swimming and diving championships – men's 4×50 m medley relay champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bal, Randall}}
Category:Latter Day Saints from California
Category:American male backstroke swimmers
Category:American male freestyle swimmers
Category:World record setters in swimming
Category:Sportspeople from Fair Oaks, California
Category:Stanford Cardinal men's swimmers
Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming
Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)
Category:Swimmers at the 2007 Pan American Games
Category:Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games
Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in swimming