View source for Eric Namesnik

{{Short description|American swimmer (1970–2006)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox swimmer
| name           = Eric Namesnik
| image          = Ericnamesnik.JPG
| image_size     = 220
| alt            =
| caption        = 
| fullname       = Eric John Namesnik 
| nicknames      = "Snik"
| national_team  = {{USA}}
| strokes        = [[Medley swimming|Individual medley]]
| club           = Club Wolverine
| collegeteam    = [[Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving|University of Michigan]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1970|8|7|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Butler, Pennsylvania]]
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2006|1|11|1970|8|7|mf=y}}
| death_place    = [[Ypsilanti, Michigan]]
| height         = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{convert|172|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| show-medals = yes 
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | the United States}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley|400 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley|400 m medley]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships (LC)]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1991 World Aquatics Championships|1991 Perth]] | 200 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1991 World Aquatics Championships|1991 Perth]] | 400 m medley}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1994 World Aquatics Championships|1994 Rome]] | 400 m medley}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|Pan Pacific Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1991 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1991 Edmonton]] | 400 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1989 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1989 Tokyo]] | 400 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1991 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1991 Edmonton]] | 200 m medley}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1995 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships|1995 Atlanta]] | 400 m medley}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1995 Pan American Games|1995 Mar del Plata]] | [[Swimming at the 1995 Pan American Games|200 m breast]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1995 Pan American Games|1995 Mar del Plata]] | [[Swimming at the 1995 Pan American Games|400 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1995 Pan American Games|1995 Mar del Plata]] | [[Swimming at the 1995 Pan American Games|200 m medley]]}}
}}

'''Eric John Namesnik''' (August 7, 1970 – January 11, 2006), nicknamed "'''Snik'''," was an American competition [[swimming (sport)|swimmer]] and two-time Olympic silver medalist in the men's 400-meter Individual Medley (1992 & 1996).

==Early years==
Namesnik was born and raised in the town of [[Butler, Pennsylvania]], and swam for the Butler YMCA Swim team while he was growing up. He initially attended [[Butler Area Senior High School]], transferring after his sophomore season to [[Spanish River Community High School]] in [[Boca Raton, Florida]].

He accepted a swimming scholarship from the [[University of Michigan]], to compete under coach [[Jon Urbanchek]]'s [[Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving]] team from 1989 to 1993.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two-Time Olympian Dead At 35|date=12 January 2006 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-01-12-0601111390-story.html|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

==Swimming career==
Namesnik represented the United States at two consecutive Olympic Games. At the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in Barcelona, Spain, he received his first Olympic medal, a silver, for his second-place performance in the [[Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley|men's 400-meter individual medley]] (4:15.57).<ref>{{cite web|title=Southern Exposure A Selling Point|date=30 October 1990 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1990-10-30-9002220506-story.html|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

Four years later at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], he again finished second and received a silver medal in his signature event, the [[Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley|men's 400-meter individual medley]] (4:15.25).<ref name=sroprofile>Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, [https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/na/eric-namesnik-1.html  Eric Namesnik] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113210429/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/na/eric-namesnik-1.html |date=2012-11-13}}. Retrieved January 14, 2023.</ref>

He also won a bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the 1994 world championships, and two silvers at the 1991 world meet. He set a new American record in the 400-meter individual medley on four occasions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swimming Great Namesnik Passes Away After Accident|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2006/1/11/swimming_great_namesnik_passes_away_after_accident.aspx|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

===Swim coaching===
He later spent seven years (1997-2004) as an assistant with the men's [[Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving]] team under coach [[Jon Urbanchek]]. He was a volunteer assistant coach at [[Eastern Michigan University]] for two years before his death and was a coach for Wolverine Aquatics Club in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Swimming Assistant Eric Namesnik Passes Away Following Car Accident|url=https://emueagles.com/news/2006/1/11/NamesnikAccident|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

==Death==
Namesnik died on January 11, 2006, from injuries sustained in a car accident the prior week. On January 7, 2006, he was critically injured in an accident that occurred when he attempted to pass another vehicle on an ice-covered road in [[Pittsfield Township, Michigan]]. He was survived by his wife, former swimmer Kirsten Silvester from the Netherlands, and their two children, Austin and Madison.  His former club team, Club Wolverine, hosts the Namesnik Memorial Grand Prix every spring in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kornacki: Namesnik's Family Finds Life's Sunshine|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2016/3/24/kornacki_namesnik_s_family_finds_life_s_sunshine.aspx|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

He is memorialized with a statue outside of the Butler County YMCA, along with his childhood coach John "Pump" McLaughlin.<ref>{{cite web|title=USA Olympic Swimming: Remembering Eric Namesnik's Quiet 20-Year Olympic Legacy|website=[[Bleacher Report]] |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1283382-usa-olympic-swimming-remembering-eric-namesniks-quiet-20-year-olympic-legacy|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)]]
* [[List of University of Michigan alumni]]
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Find a Grave|12951694}}
* [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/palmbeachpost/name/eric-namesnik-obituary?pid=16300198 Eric Namesnik Obituary]

{{Footer USA Swimming 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Swimming 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer Pan Pacific Champions 400m Medley Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Namesnik, Eric}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:American male breaststroke swimmers]]
[[Category:American male medley swimmers]]
[[Category:American swimming coaches]]
[[Category:Eastern Michigan University people]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines men's swimmers]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines swimming coaches]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in swimming]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Butler, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Michigan]]
[[Category:Swimmers from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1995 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in swimming]]
[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in swimming]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]