Omaha, Neb. – (October 1, 2007) Three members of the U.S. national swim team have joined Mutual of Omaha’s Gold Medal Team, a select group of swimming athletes who represent the sport to young people across the country. Joining Mutual of Omaha’s line-up of sponsored athletes are:
Davis Tarwater
Tarwater is ranked among the best swimmers in the world in the 200-meter butterfly. He recently claimed his second national title in that event at the 2007 Summer Nationals. There, he also earned gold as part of the 400-meter medley and 400-meter freestyle relay teams and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly.
Peter Vanderkaay
At his first Olympics in 2004, Vanderkaay earned a gold medal as a member of the 800-meter freestyle relay team. Since then, he has been a part of an American record-setting team in that event every year. Most recently, at the 2007 World Championships, he and his team set a world record in that event. At the 2007 Summer Nationals, Vanderkaay claimed two gold medals as a member of the 400-meter medley relay and 400-meter freestyle relay teams. At that meet he also earned two silver individual medals in the 200-and 800-meter freestyle events.
Ben Wildman-Tobriner
At the 2006 Nationals, Wildman-Tobriner finished second in the 50-meter freestyle to earn a spot on the 2007 World Championships, where he went on to earn his first World Championship title in that event. Wildman-Tobriner also took gold in the 400-meter freestyle relay at Worlds and most recently, at the 2007 Nationals, he earned gold in the 50-meter freestyle and silver in the 100-meter butterfly. He is currently ranked among the world’s fastest freestyle sprinters.
These three athletes join Randall Bal, Josh Davis, Mark Gangloff, Brendan Hansen, Misty Hyman, Larsen Jensen, Peter Marshall, Aaron Peirsol, Kaitlin Sandeno, Kim Vandenberg, Neil Walker and Kate Ziegler on Mutual’s Gold Medal Team, a select group of swimmers sponsored by Mutual of Omaha who make personal appearances and conduct swim clinics for young swimmers across the country. The Gold Medal Team is a key component of Mutual of Omaha’s sponsorship of USA Swimming, the national governing body of amateur swimming that fields the U.S. National Team.
While supporting the national organization, Mutual also has extended its support to local swim clubs throughout the nation, sponsoring 30 clubs and more than 3,000 young swimmers. In addition, earlier this year, Mutual launched its sponsorship of the Mutual of Omaha BreakOut! Swim Clinic program, a unique swim clinic experience developed by Davis and designed to inspire and motivate a new generation of swim stars to pursue their dreams.
“Mutual of Omaha enthusiastically welcomes Davis Tarwater, Peter Vanderkaay and Ben Wildman-Tobriner to our Gold Medal Team,” said John Hildenbiddle, senior vice president of Brand Management and Public Relations at Mutual of Omaha. “Mutual of Omaha’s sponsorship of USA Swimming is stronger than ever and we look forward to cheering on these three athletes in the final leg to the Olympic Trials, which will take place right here in Omaha.”
Mutual of Omaha is a full-service, multi-line organization providing insurance and financial products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States.
