Gary O'Toole, M.D., is a retired

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

Olympic

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

. He represented Ireland at the

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, and

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Games. While studying at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

, O'Toole won a 200 m breaststroke silver medal at the 1989 European

Long Course An Olympic-size swimming pool conforms to regulated dimensions that are large enough for international competition. This type of swimming pool is used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is in length, typically referred to as "long cour ...

Championships in Bonn . He also won a gold medal at the World University Championships in 1991 when representing University College Dublin and UCD. He helped to break 5 National relay records, including Short Course and Longcourse. As a prominent member of the

Irish Amateur Swimming Association The Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA) was the national governing body of swimming in Ireland. The organisation was founded in 1893 and held responsibility for the various aquatic disciplines until it was dissolved in January 1999 followi ...

, O'Toole had been approached to make representations on behalf of the victims of the George Gibney scandal. Gibney, who coached O'Toole until he became aware of these allegations, criticised O'Toole publicly during the 1992 Olympics. His complaints were ignored, and led to a major investigation into the incidents and ultimately to the disbandment of the IASA, and the creation of

Swim Ireland Swim Ireland ( ga, Cumann Snámh Éireann) is the national governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, open water swimming and synchronised swimming in the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). Competitors from Northe ...

. Since his retirement from professional swimming, O'Toole has been a practising Orthopedic surgeon with a specialist interest in adult arthritis (both hip and knee) and knee sports injuries. He also has a keen interest in musculoskeletal cancer (bone and soft tissue tumours). He continued to provide expert analysis for

RTÉ Sport RTÉ Sport is a department of Irish public broadcaster RTÉ. The department provides sporting coverage through a number of platforms including RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, RTÉ.ie, RTÉ Player Sport and RTÉ Mobile. RTÉ holds the television ...

's Olympic swimming coverage.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Otoole, Gary 1968 births Living people Swimmers at the 1988 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1992 Summer Olympics Olympic swimmers of Ireland Irish orthopaedic surgeons Alumni of University College Dublin People from Bray, County Wicklow Sportspeople from County Wicklow European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Irish male swimmers Universiade medalists in swimming Universiade gold medalists for Ireland Medalists at the 1991 Summer Universiade People educated at Presentation College, Bray