Mark Stockwell

Who is Mark Stockwell?

Mark William Stockwell is an Australian former competition swimmer who specialized in freestyle sprint events. He won three medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

An alumnus of St Laurence's College, Brisbane, Stockwell claimed a silver medal in the 100-metre freestyle behind American swimmer Rowdy Gaines after a controversial incident involving the starter. Gaines' coach, Richard Quick, was aware of starter Frank Silvestri's tendency to pull the trigger immediately as the swimmers mounted the blocks. Gaines managed to gain around a metre's start on the remainder of the unaware field, and this was enough, as he held Stockwell off to claim the gold by 0.44 of a second. Stockwell and the Australian Olympic Federation lodged an official protest, but to no avail.

Stockwell, along with teammates Greg Fasala, Neil Brooks and Michael Delany, picked up another silver medal in the 4x100-metre freestyle relay, just 0.63 of a second behind the world-record-breaking Americans. He also teamed up with Mark Kerry, Peter Evans and Glenn Buchanan, swimming the freestyle leg to win a bronze medal in the 4x100-metre medley relay.