Flashback: Ugur Taner Newport, Class of 1992

Sport: Swimming

High-school rewind: Won seven individual state championships in five events, including the 50-yard freestyle (1990, '92), 100 free (1990), 200 free (1991), 100 butterfly (1991-92) and 200 individual medley (1989). Disqualified in a controversial decision after winning the 100 fly as a freshman.

After high school: Swam for Turkey in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, finishing 18th in the 200-meter free. Won nine national championships, including three straight NCAA titles for Cal in the 200 fly (1994-96). Competed at U.S. Olympic Trials in 1996 and 2000, narrowly missing the team both times.

After athletics: Retired from swimming in 2000, and has taught and coached ever since at the La Petite Baleen Swim School in Half Moon Bay, Calif., where he works with athletes ages 6 to 18.

Personal: Taner and his wife, Liesl, a former national-caliber freestyler, married in October 2000. They reside in Half Moon Bay, about 30 minutes south of San Francisco, with their son, Brooks, 2-1/2, and their daughter, Channing, 4 months.

Fast forward: Gone are the six-day-a-week workouts and endless, water-logged hours, replaced by the more pressing demands of family and career.

Taner, 29, widely regarded as the greatest boys prep swimmer in state history, still has fond memories of his high-school years, particularly his senior season when he swam the 50 free in 20.02 seconds, then a national record for a public-high school swimmer.

He says the secret of his success was hard work.

Asked what advice he would give high-school athletes, Taner said, "Go to practice."

— Matt Peterson