U.S. Olympic Athletes

Justin Zook

  • Home:  Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Justin Zook entered the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing looking to defend his gold medal in the 100m backstroke (S10). After setting a world record in the preliminary round, Zook held off Australia’s Michael Anderson in the finals to secure his second consecutive gold medal.
 
Zook has been swimming since he was seven and made his first international competition debut at the 1998 IPC Swimming World Championships in New Zealand, as a 12-year-old. In 2004, Zook won his first Paralympic Games gold medal in the 100m backstroke in Athens.  
 
Zook was the captain of his high school swim team and earned Minnesota All-State honors in the 500-yard freestyle and All-American honors in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
 
Zook says he enjoys golfing, basketball, video games and hanging out with friends.  


Major Achievements:

  • 2011: Gold medal, 100m backstroke; bronze medal, men's 34-point medley relay - Pan-Pacific Para Swimming Championships, Edmonton, Canada
  • 2010: Bronze medal, Open water – IPC Swimming Championships, Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • 2008: Gold medal, 100m Backstroke S10 – Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
  • 2008: American record, 50m backstroke – CanAm Championships, Victoria, British Columbia
  • 2007: First place, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle; Third place, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle – U.S. Paralympics Open Swimming Championships, College Park, Md.
  • 2006: Gold medal, 100m backstroke; Bronze medal, 4x100m medley relay - International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships, Durban, South Africa
  • 2005: Pan American record, 100m backstroke - U.S. Paralympic Open Swimming Championships, Minneapolis, Minn.
  • 2004: Gold medal, 100m backstroke; bronze medal, 50m freestyle - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece
  • 2002: Two bronze medals, 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle - IPC Swimming World Championships, Mar del Plata, Argentina