Tom Wilkens

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Peter Wilkens
Nickname	"Tom"
National team	United States
Born	(1975-11-25) November 25, 1975 (age 50) Middletown Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Insurance, public service, swim coach
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	181 lb (82 kg)
Spouse	Stephanie
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke, individual medley
Club	Santa Clara Swim Club
College team	Stanford University
Coach	Skip Kenney (Stanford)
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 2000 Sydney 200 m medley World Championships (LC) 2001 Fukuoka 200 m medley 2001 Fukuoka 400 m medley World Championships (SC) 2002 Moscow 400 m medley 2002 Moscow 200 m medley Pan Pacific Championships 1999 Sydney 200 m medley 1999 Sydney 200 m breaststroke 1997 Fukuoka 200 m breaststroke 1999 Sydney 400 m medley 2002 Yokohama 200 m medley Summer Universiade 1995 Fukuoka 200 m medley

Thomas Peter Wilkens (born November 25, 1975) is an American former competitive swimmer who competed for Stanford University and was a 2000 Sydney Olympic bronze medalist in the men's 200-meter individual medley. After retiring from swimming, he had a career in insurance, public service, and later coached swimming for a period with Fordham University.[3]

Wilkens grew up in Middletown Township, New Jersey, and trained at the Middletown Swim and Tennis Club. He attended Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey, where he became one of the top high school swimmers in the state. He earned multiple All-American honors and set state records in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke.[4] His dominance at the state level earned him a scholarship to Stanford University, a perennial powerhouse in collegiate swimming.

Graduating with a degree in Political Science from Stanford University, Wilkens was a key contributor to the Cardinal swim team under Hall of Fame Head Coach Skip Kenney.[5] He helped lead Stanford to the NCAA team championship in 1998, as well as runner-up finishes in 1995 and 1997. Individually, Wilkens captured five NCAA national titles: the 400-yard individual medley in 1997, the 200-yard breaststroke in 1998, the 200 and 400 individual medleys in 1998, and the 400-yard medley relay in 1998. Wilkens was a multiple-time All-American and earned national recognition as one of the top medley and breaststroke swimmers in the country.[6]

In international competition, he captured a silver in the 200 IM at the World Aquatic Championships in 2001, as well as a bronze in the 400 IM. At the 2002 World Championships in Short-Course, he was a recipient of a gold medal in the 400 IM. Wilkens participated in the 2002, 1999, and 1997 Pan Pacific Championships, In the 1999 Pan Pacifics, he won a gold in the 200 IM, and four medals in additional events.[3]

Wilkens represented the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, serving as team captain.[7] He received a bronze medal for his third-place performance in the men's 200-meter individual medley, finishing with a time of 2:00.87. He also competed in the preliminary heats of the men's 200-meter breaststroke, but did not advance.[8] The breaststroker was one of the featured swimmers in P.H. Mullen's book Gold in the Water.

In 2023, Wilkens was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the university's swimming program.[9]

Following his retirement from competitive swimming, Wilkens remained active in his local community. He served in the insurance industry in New Jersey first with AIG, and then as a Director and Branch Manager with McGowan Insurance. He has served with the Association Board of the New Jersey Professional Insurance Agents.[3] Extending his career into civic service, in November 2023, he was elected as a Republican to serve on the Township Committee of Middletown Township, New Jersey. The Township Committee serves as the governing body of Middletown Township, with members elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis. At the annual reorganization meeting, the Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each for a one-year term. Wilkens' election marked his continued commitment to public service and local governance.[10]

Beginning in 2016, Wilkins was a club coach with certification from USA swimming where he worked with the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County. The age group levels he coached included 11-12 levels up to National Team age. Swimmers he coached became Division I level collegiate competitors, and included YMCA National Champions, and several who qualified for the Olympic trials.[7]

In 1924, Wilkens served as a short-term swimming coach with Fordham University for the 2023-24 season, and became Head Coach in the 1924-1925 season.[7]

He has resided in New Jersey with Stephanie, his wife and children Kasey and Bryce.[7]

• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of Stanford University people
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)

• Tom Wilkens at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)

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