John Frederick Hencken (born May 29, 1954) is an American former competition swimmer, three-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder. Hencken won five Olympic medals during his career, including three golds.

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John Hencken

Hencken circa 1974
Personal information
Full name	John Frederick Hencken
National team	United States
Born	(1954-05-29) May 29, 1954 (age 69) Culver City, California, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke
Club	Santa Clara Swim Club
College team	Stanford University
Medal record Representing the United States Olympic Games 1972 Munich 200 m breaststroke 1972 Munich 100 m breaststroke 1976 Montreal 100 m breaststroke 1976 Montreal 4×100 m medley 1976 Montreal 200 m breaststroke World Championships (LC) 1973 Belgrade 100 m breaststroke 1973 Belgrade 4×100 m medley 1973 Belgrade 200 m breaststroke

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At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, he won a gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke and a bronze medal in the 100-meter breaststroke. Four years later at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, Hencken won gold medals in the 100-meter breaststroke and 4×100-meter medley relay, and a silver in the 200-meter breaststroke.^[1]

During his career Hencken set 21 American and 13 world records. He graduated from Stanford in general engineering and product design, and completed his MBA at the University of Phoenix.^[2]

1972 graduate of Cupertino High School, Cupertino, CA

• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of Stanford University people
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 100 metres breaststroke
• World record progression 200 metres breaststroke
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay