Brian Goodell


Brian Stuart Goodell is an American politician, former competitive swimmer, two-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events. He is currently the Mayor of Mission Viejo, California.

Career

At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, he won gold medals for his first-place finishes in the 400-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events. He also won gold medals in both events at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He received a silver medal in 1,500-meter freestyle at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships in Cali, Colombia.
After graduating from Mission Viejo High School, he attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he swam for coach Ron Ballatore's UCLA Bruins swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association and Pacific-10 Conference competition from 1978 to 1980. During his college swimming career, he won nine NCAA individual championships, including three times in each of the 500-yard freestyle, 1,650-yard freestyle, and the 400-yard individual medley.
Goodell held the 400-meter freestyle world record from June 18, 1976 to April 6, 1979, and the 1,500-meter freestyle world record from 1976 to 1980.
He was recognized as the Male World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine in 1977. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1986.
Brian and his wife, Vicki Goodell, are currently licensed Realtors in California and have created The Gold Medal Group with Berkshire Hathaway.
In 2016, Goodell was elected to the City Council of his hometown of Mission Viejo, California, and is serving as its mayor for calendar year 2020.