Roy Allen Saari (February 26, 1945 – December 30, 2008) was an American swimmer and water polo player. He qualified for the 1964 Summer Olympics in both disciplines, and chose swimming, as the Olympic rules of the time did not allow him to compete in two sports. He won a gold medal as a member of the first-place U.S. team in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, setting a new world record in the final with teammates Steve Clark, Gary Ilman and Don Schollander (7:52.1). Individually he earned a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley (4:47.1). He also advanced to the finals of the 400-meter freestyle and 1,500-meter freestyle, placing fourth and seventh, respectively. Before the Olympics Saari became the first person to break the 17 minute barrier over 1500 m, but in the Olympic final he was suffering from a cold and clocked a mere 17:29.2. He and his younger brother Robert Saari were on the 1964 Olympic water polo team, which was coached by their father, Urho Saari. He attended the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

and swam for the

USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Southern California (USC), located in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the ''Trojans'', the women's athletic teams are referred ...

swimming and diving team. He also played water polo at the national level. He graduated from USC in 1967 and received his law degree from

Loyola Marymount University Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private Jesuit and Marymount research university in Los Angeles, California. It is located on the west side of the city near Playa Vista. LMU is the parent school to Loyola Law School, which is located ...

in 1973. Between 1973 and 1978 he practiced law in Orange County, California, and then worked as a real estate agent and planning commissioner in

Mammoth Lakes, California Mammoth Lakes is a town in Mono County, California, and is the county's only incorporated community. It is located immediately to the east of Mammoth Mountain, at an elevation of . As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,191, r ...

. Saari died December 30, 2008 of heart failure, aged 63.Valerie J. Nelson (January 3, 2009
"Roy Saari, 63; USC swimming star won gold and silver in 1964 Olympics
" ''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved October 6, 2012. Earlier in 1976 he was inducted into the

International Swimming Hall of Fame The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the s ...

. In 1982, he was inducted into the

USA Water Polo Hall of Fame The USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, located in Irvine, California, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring players, coaches and officials who have contributed greatly to the game of water polo in the United States of America. It was established in 197 ...

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saari, Roy 1945 births 2008 deaths American male freestyle swimmers American male medley swimmers American people of Finnish descent California lawyers World record setters in swimming Loyola Law School alumni Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for the United States in swimming Olympic silver medalists for the United States in swimming Sportspeople from Buffalo, New York Swimmers at the 1963 Pan American Games Swimmers at the 1964 Summer Olympics USC Trojans men's swimmers Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in swimming Universiade medalists in swimming FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States American male water polo players 20th-century American lawyers Medalists at the 1963 Pan American Games

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