Jeffrey James FLOAT

United States

Deaflympic Medals:

First Deaflympic Games: Bucharest 1977

Born: 1960

Gender: m

A native of Sacramento, California. The first person to win the gold medals in both Deaf World Games and Olympic Games as in 1977 he won 10 gold medals (100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 400m individual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay) at the 13th World Games of the Deaf held in Bucharest, Romania and in 1984 he became Olympic champion (4x200m freestyle relay) at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. The first deaf Olympian to openly display the universal ILY (I Love You) sign on the pedestal during his medal ceremony at the Olympic Games. 1982 world champion among the non-deaf in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Was guest of honor at the Opening Ceremony of the 15th World Games for the Deaf held in 1985 at Los Angeles, USA.