M-A grad Dick Roth authors book — “Swimmer, Hippie, Cowboy”
While a student at Menlo-Atherton High School, Dick Roth accomplished something remarkable in 1964. He won an Olympic gold medal, swimming the race while experiencing acute appendicitis. In 2012, InMenlo interviewed Dick about the race.
He’s now written a book chronicling his life journey, which has had many twists and turns. The title is Swimmer, Hippie, Cowboy.
“It’s an unusual story — to say the very least. I hope it informs and inspires athletes, spiritual seekers, and the general public,” writes Dick.
After graduating from M-A, Dick attended Stanford and swam competitively there.
“After my swimming career, I wanted a more fulfilled life, and so I lived what was known as and often referred to as a hippie lifestyle for a couple of years. I lived in a spiritual hippie commune in Santa Barbara and Elko County, NV, for 17 years.
“After leaving the commune, I worked for Stephen Covey and the Covey Leadership Center for ten years in Provo, UT. I’m retired now and have lived in Park City, UT, for 30 years.
“It’s been a wild ride with a lot learned and many stories to share. Thus the inspiration for Swimmer, Hippie, Cowboy.”
Chris Abramson June 01, 2025 at 8:30 am
Fond memory of the MA swim team in 1965. I was a freshman, Dick was a senior having already won the 400 IM for gold in the Tokyo Olympics. In a meet against our arch nemesis Palo Alto (Paly) high school, Bob Gaughran, our coach, pitted strategy against opposing coach Paul Bataille. Most point wins the meet. I remember Dick getting on the blocks for the 100 butterfly, I believe, and just before the gun sounded, he stepped back to swim a different event. There may be a more accurate description for why the change but I’ll also think of it as cool strategy.