Michael Groß is a swimmer who has competed for West Germany. He competed at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games. He won a total of six medals throughout his Olympic career, with three golds (two in 1984 and one in 1988) attained in the freestyle and butterfly events. He was also nicknamed The Albatross for his long arms that gave him a span of 213 centimetres.
Gross was one of the world's top swimmers through the 1980s and the world's best swimmer in the 200 metres butterfly for seven years. He arrived at his first Olympics in 1984 as the world champion and world record holder. He dominated the entire field to win the gold medal and lower his own world record each in the 200 metres freestyle and 100 metres butterfly, beating the American favorites Michael Heath and Pablo Morales, respectively. He was favored to win the 200 metres butterfly race until Jon Sieben surged past him through the midway of the final length for a surprising gold medal and a new world record, leaving Gross with a silver. The 4x200 metres freestyle relay race became one of the marquee events of the Games, with Gross leading the West German squad against the American hosts. Though his rivals pulled off an upset for the gold, Gross produced the fastest relay split (1:46.89) ever recorded in the event's history.
Four years later in Seoul, Gross returned to his second Olympics as the defending champion in the 200 metres freestyle and 100 metres butterfly, but he struggled to retain his titles with a fifth place in both races, losing each to Duncan Armstrong and Anthony Nesty. Gross avenged the distance butterfly title that he lost in Los Angeles to set a new Olympic record for the third gold of his Olympic career. He also commanded the West German men to secure the podium spot with a bronze over their Australian rivals in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay.
In 1991, Gross retired from competitive swimming.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Men's 200m freestyle | 
|
| Men's 100m butterfly |
| |
| Men's 200m butterfly | 
| |
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay | 4th | |
| Men's 4x200m freestyle relay |
| |
| Men's 4x100m medley relay | 4th | |
| 1988 | Men's 200m freestyle | 5th |
| Men's 100m butterfly | 5th | |
| Men's 200m butterfly |
| |
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay | 6th | |
| Men's 4x200m freestyle relay | 
| |
| Men's 4x100m medley relay | 4th |
1984[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 metres freestyle | Heats | 1:48.03 | OR |
| A Final | 1:47.44 | WR | |
| 100 metres butterfly | Heats | 54.02 | AR |
| A Final | 53.08 | WR | |
| 200 metres butterfly | Heats | 1:58.72 | OR |
| A Final | 1:57.40 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:24.69 (51.21 split) |
NR |
| Final | 3:22.98 (49.48 split) |
NR | |
| 4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:25.29 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 7:15.73 (1:46.89 split) |
AR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:49.75 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:44.26 (52.81 split) |
NR |
1988[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 metres freestyle | Heats | 1:48.55 | |
| A Final | 1:48.59 | ||
| 100 metres butterfly | Heats | 53.78 | |
| A Final | 53.44 | ||
| 200 metres butterfly | Heats | 1:58.09 | |
| A Final | 1:56.94 | OR | |
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:23.19 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:21.65 (50.66 split) |
||
| 4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:19.38 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 7:14.35 (1:47.27 split) |
||
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:44.72 (54.41 split) |
|
| Final | 3:42.98 (53.17 split) |