Float, Jeff

Deaf from meningitis at age 13 months. Began competition swimming at age 7; set 6 world records for the deaf in the 1976 U.S. tryouts for the 1977 World Games for the Deaf swimming competition, then 9 individual world records at the World Games for the Deaf, winning 10 gold medals. Became a member of the regular U.S. 1984 Olympic swimming team; first deaf person to win a gold medal in the regular Olympic Games, placing 1st in the men's relay event. Graduated hearing high school in Sacramento, CA, then graduated University of Southern California (1982?). Worked as a marketing representative for a hearing aid company until becoming a Realtor in 1989. Though he gave up competition swimming soon after the 1984 Olympics, he continued to coach swimmers, inventing a training apparatus for competition swimmers that hit the market in 2003.