Denis Pankratov

Denis Pankratov is a retired Russian butterfly swimmer, born July 4, 1974, in Volgograd, best known for his performances at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He won the butterfly double at those Games, and his 100 meter butterfly victory, in a world record time of 52.27 seconds, was notable for an unconventional technique in which he swam roughly 25 meters underwater on the first lap and 15 meters underwater on the second, an approach that later prompted rule changes limiting butterfly swimmers to 15 meters underwater. He was named Swimming World's Swimmer of the Year twice, in 1995 and 1996, set seven world records in long course and short course competition, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2004; he retired in 2002.