University of Vermont Athletics

Dan Canty 1990 - Swimming

The first three-time winner of the Peter Gross Vermont Swimmer of the Year Award, and 2002 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Dan Canty graduated in 1990 holding nine school records in a variety of distances and strokes.

Coming from Essex Junction and Essex High, Canty set records in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly, the 200-, 500-, 1000-, and 1,650-yard freestyle, and swam a leg in three record-setting relays (400- and 800-yard freestyle and the 400-yard medley). His records in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly still stand.

His first year at UVM, he set three individual freshmen records including the current varsity 200-yard fly mark of 1:55.24 that has stood for 13 years. He also swam a leg in two frosh relay records. The next season, his first as team MVP, he posted four school record-setting individual performances at the New England's and anchored the 800-yard freestyle relay that finished a program-best second. In 1989, he added record-breaking performances in the 1000-yard freestyle and finished second (by a stroke) in the 200-yard butterfly at the New England Championships, the best Vermont finish ever in that event. He capped his career in his senior year setting four other individual school records at the New England Championships his last collegiate meet.

"He was the best swimmer we have ever had from the state of Vermont and was one of the top butterfliers and distance freestyles in New England at the time," noted his coach Joe Fischer, who coached Canty for three years. "He had tremendous endurance in two vastly different strokes. His natural rhythm could carry him for great distances. Without question, he is one of the best I have ever coached at UVM."