Roy Saari

Roy Saari, born on February 26, 1945, was a remarkable American swimmer and water polo player who made his mark in the world of competitive sports. He qualified for the 1964 Summer Olympics in both swimming and water polo, ultimately choosing to compete in swimming due to the Olympic regulations of the time. Saari was a key member of the U.S. team that won a gold medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, where they set a new world record with a time of seven minutes and fifty-two point one seconds.

In addition to his relay success, Saari showcased his individual talent by earning a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley, clocking in at four minutes and forty-seven point one seconds. He also reached the finals in the 400-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle events, finishing fourth and seventh, respectively. Notably, he was the first swimmer to break the seventeen-minute barrier in the 1500 meters, although he faced challenges during the Olympic final due to a cold, resulting in a time of seventeen minutes and twenty-nine point two seconds.

Saari's athletic prowess ran in the family; he and his younger brother, Robert Saari, were both part of the 1964 Olympic water polo team, which was coached by their father, Urho Saari. He attended the University of Southern California, where he swam for the USC Trojans swimming and diving team and played water polo at a national level. After graduating from USC in 1967, he pursued a law degree from Loyola Marymount University, which he obtained in 1973.

Following his legal education, Saari practiced law in Orange County, California, from 1973 to 1978 before transitioning to a career as a real estate agent and planning commissioner in Mammoth Lakes, California. His contributions to swimming and water polo were recognized with his induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976 and the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1982. Sadly, Roy Saari passed away on December 30, 2008, at the age of sixty-three due to heart failure.