Thai swimmer (born 1977)
Vicha Ratanachote (Thai: วิชา รัตนโชติ; born February 22, 1977) is a Thai former swimmer, who specialized in middle-distance freestyle events.[1] In 1999, Ratanachote became a SEA Games champion in the 200 m freestyle, and later represented Thailand at the 2000 Summer Olympics. While studying in the United States, he is a member of the USC Trojans swimming and diving team under head coach Mark Schubert.[2]
At the 1999 Southeast Asian Games in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Ratanachote powered past the entire field to earn a gold medal in the 200 m freestyle with a time of 1:53.43.[3]
Ratanachote competed in the men's 200 m freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[4] After winning a gold medal from the SEA Games, his entry time of 1:53.43 was accredited under a FINA B-standard.[5] He challenged seven other swimmers in heat three, including 17-year-olds Damian Alleyne of Barbados and Wu Nien-pin of the Chinese Taipei. He rounded out the field to last place by 0.33 of a second behind Wu in a time of 1:54.91. Ratanachote failed to advance into the semifinals, as he placed thirty-first overall in the prelims.[6][7]
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