Craig Stevens (swimmer)

Craig Stevens ( born July 23, 1980 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian swimmer. He specializes in the 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m freestyle.

His first international medal winning Stevens at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, when he finished third on the 1500m freestyle. In the 400 m race, he finished fourth. In the same year he won gold with the Australian 4x200 m relay at the Short Course World Championships in Moscow, but he was not here in the finals at the start, but only in the flow.

Prior to the 2004 Olympics Stevens became known to the general public, as he renounced in favor of his friend Ian Thorpe on his start in the 400m. Thorpe had caused a false start at the Australian Trials and was thus disqualified. At the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, he won the Australian 4x200 m relay silver.

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne Stevens was nominated for the Australian team, as Thorpe had to cancel due to illness. After Stevens had won the 400m the lead as the fastest swimmer, he reached the final only to fourth place. Also about 1500 m he reached the final and finished sixth.

With the World Swimming Championships in 2007 Stevens won his first World Championship medal when he first finished third on 800 m freestyle in a personal best time of 7:48,67 minutes. However, the winner of this race Oussama Mellouli (Tunisia), was later found guilty of doping and so Stevens won the silver medal. In the 1500 m final Stevens broke through for the first time the 15 - minute barrier, finishing in a personal best time of 14:59,11 sixth place.

Characteristics

• Club: SLC Aquadot
• Height: 188cm
• Weight: 80Kg
• Coach: Tracey Menzies