Jason Lezak is a swimmer who has competed for the United States. He competed at the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
When he first competed in 2000, he won his first gold as a member of the U.S. men's 4x100 metres medley relay team. Lezak has continued to be a member of the American swimming squad at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012. In 2004, Lezak added a gold and a bronze to his medal haul in the freestyle and medley relay races.
Four years later, Lezak entered his third Games as a medal contender in the sprint freestyle double (50 and 100). He was notable for leading the U.S. team during the final of the men's 4x100 metres freestyle relay, billed as the greatest Olympic swimming relay race of all time. Diving into the pool at the final exchange, Lezak trailed Alain Bernard by nearly a full body length. With the latter maintaining an insurmountable lead at the midway of the final lap, Lezak chased him to touch the wall first at 46.06 seconds, the fastest ever split time in the event's history, and hand the Americans with an unexpected gold (the first in 12 years) and a new world record (3:08.24). He also tied for the bronze with César Cielo Filho in the 100 metres freestyle (an event won by Bernard) and helped the Americans defend their title in the 4x100 metres medley relay to attain and preserve Michael Phelps' record of eight gold medals in a single edition.
At London 2012, he won a silver as a member of the U.S. team in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay, swimming only in the heats. With this feat, he became the first swimmer to ever ascend the Olympic podium for the fourth time in the same event.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Men's 4x100m freestyle relay | 
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| Men's 4x100m medley relay | 
| |
| 2004 | Men's 50m freestyle | 5th |
| Men's 100m freestyle | 21st | |
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay | 
| |
| Men's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2008 | Men's 100m freestyle |
|
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay |
| |
| Men's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2012 | Men's 4x100m freestyle relay |
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2000[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:15.43 (48.46 split) |
|
| Final | 3:13.86 (48.42 split) |
AR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:38.59 (48.83 split) |
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| Final | 3:33.73 (Reserve) |
WR |
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 metres freestyle | Heats | 22.33 | |
| Semifinal | 22.12 | ||
| Final | 22.11 | ||
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 49.87 | |
| Semifinal | Did not advance | ||
| Final | |||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:15.83 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:14.62 (47.86 split) |
||
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:35.10 (Reserve) |
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| Final | 3:30.68 (47.58 split) |
WR | |
2008[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 48.33 | |
| Semifinal | 47.98 | ||
| Final | 47.67 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:12.23 (Reserve) |
WR |
| Final | 3:08.24 (46.06 split) |
WR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:32.75 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:29.34 (46.76 split) |
WR |
2012[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:12.59 (48.04 split) |
| Final | 3:10.38 (Reserve) |