Pathunyu Yimsomruay

Pathunyu "Guy" Yimsomruay (born July 6, 1979) is a Thai former swimmer, who specialized in backstroke and in individual medley events.[1] He is a single-time Olympian (2000), and a four-time medalist at the Southeast Asian Games (1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003). While studying in the United States, Yimsomruay earned four All-American and five All-ACC honors for the Virginia Cavaliers.

Pathunyu Yimsomruay
Personal information
Full namePathunyu Yimsomruay
Nickname(s)Guy
National team Thailand
Born (1979-07-06) 6 July 1979
Bangkok, Thailand
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, medley
ClubGermantown Academy
College teamUniversity of Virginia (U.S.)
CoachMark Bernardino (U.S.)

Career

Early years

Yimsomruay was born in Bangkok, Thailand, the son of Sayan and Sumalee Yimsomruay. He started his sporting career in an early age, as a member of Singha Swimming Club. He accepted a full scholarship to study at the Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. During his high school career, he held school records in the 100-yard butterfly (50.65) and 100-yard backstroke (50.40), and received all-league and all-section honors. Yimsomruay also competed for the national team when Thailand hosted the 1998 Asian Games, but failed to collect a single medal in the 200 m backstroke and in the 200 m individual medley.[2]

In 1999, Yimsomruay attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he majored in sociology, and played for the Virginia Cavaliers, swimming and diving team under head coach Mark Bernardino.[3] While swimming for the Cavaliers, he received four All-American and five All-ACC honors, and eventually helped the school's team claim a 200-yard freestyle relay title at the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.[4]

International career

Yimsomruay competed for Thailand in the men's 200 m individual medley at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[5][6] After winning his first gold medal at the SEA Games in Brunei, his entry time of 2:04.90 was officially accredited under a FINA B-standard.[7] He challenged seven other swimmers in heat four, including Latvia's two-time Olympian and top favorite Valērijs Kalmikovs. He closed out the field to last place by 4.31 seconds behind winner Dean Kent of New Zealand in 2:08.38. Yimsomruay failed to advance into the semifinals, as he placed forty-third overall in the prelims.[8][9]

At the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Yimsomruay won two bronze medals each in the 200 m individual medley (2:07.38), and in the 400 m individual medley (4:32.29).[10][11]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Pathunyu Yimsomruay". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  2. Iezzi, Bill (2 December 1998). "GA Star Prepares To Swim For Thailand Guy Yimsomruay Will Represent His Country In The Backstroke And IM At This Month's Asian Games". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  3. "UVA Announces New Additions to Swimming and Diving". University of Virginia. 2 July 1999. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  4. "Men's ACC History: Relay Champions" (PDF). University of Virginia. p. 6. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  5. Wasilition, Bradley (14 September 2000). "Swimmers go for gold at Olympics". The Cavalier Daily. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  6. "Virginia Swimming Well Represented At Olympic Trials". Atlantic Coast Conference. 9 August 2000. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  7. "Swimming – Men's 200m Individual Medley Startlist (Heat 4)" (PDF). Sydney 2000. Omega Timing. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  8. "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Men's 200m Individual Medley Heat 4" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 308. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  9. "Virginia's Bosevska Finishes 18th In 800 Freestyle At Olympics". Atlantic Coast Conference. 21 September 2000. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  10. "Bera equals SEA Games record". Utusan Malaysia. 11 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 May 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  11. "Pool queen Joscelin stamps her mark in SEA Games". Utusan Malaysia. 9 September 2001. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
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