No medal Is As Beautiful As Friendship – The Remarkable Life of Dr. Markus Rogan

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Imagine being awarded an Olympic gold medal and all the fame and glory associated with that victory – and then turning it down.

That is what Markus Rogan (43, Austria, IISA bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @markusrogan.official) did after the 200m backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Rogan competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, and 2012 London Olympics, but it is what he did after the 200m backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games that went down arguably as one of the most memorable acts of chivalry and and sportsmanship in sports history.

The website of the Stanford University graduate explains, “It‘s the Olympic final. Four years, 10,000 kilometers spent training in the water and thousands of hours in the weight room come down to this moment. Childhood dreams are made and shattered in an instance. Dr Rogan both won and lost in these moments and today empowers performers of all types, whether on stage, on the field, in battle or on the executive floor to deliver when it matters most.“

Background

Rogan and American Aaron Peirsol has frequently raced against each other. Rogan swam for Stanford University between 2000 and 2004, while Peirsol swam for the University of Texas between 2002 and 2004. They competed against each other at the NCAA Swimming Championships. Prior to the 2004 Olympics, for example, at the where Rogan took second and Peirsol took third in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2004 NCAA Championships. They both later turned professional and dominated the 200m backstroke at international competitions.

2004 Athens Olympics 200m Backstroke Results

Aaron Peirsol, USA 1:54.95
Markus Rogan, Austria 1:57.35
Rǎzvan Florea, Romania 1:57.56
James Goddard, Great Britain 1:57.76
Tomomi Morita, Japan 1:58.40
Simon Dufour, France 1:58.49
Gregor Tait, Great Britain 1:59.28
Blaž Medvešek, Slovenia 2:00.06

The Race

Peirsol won his signature event, the 200m backstroke in Olympic record time. Rogan out touched Rǎzvan Florea of Romania to place second. Swimming next to each other in the middle of the pool, the rivals smiled and gave each other high-fives with Rogan.

The Controversy

All was well as Peirsol celebrated his victory until a call by French lane judge Denis Cadon disqualified Peirsol for an illegal turn at the 150m backstroke turn. Russian judge Felix Mikhailov and Singaporean referee Woon Sui Kut concurred and approved Cadon’s disqualification. The American officials immediately protested. The athletes – especially Rogan who was announced as the gold medalist and the other two podium finishers – Florea of Romania and James Goddard of Great Britain – would be elevated one place each.

But 20 minutes of discussions resulted in the initial disqualification being overturned on appeal because the judges were unable to show how Peirsol had swum improperly.

The Aftermath

The top swimmers had all grown to know each other over the years. There was a fierce rivalry between them, but also one of deep mutual respect. They all knew how hard and diligent each of them worked to reach the top echelons of swimming.

As Rogan said, “[Aaron] is one of my best friends and no medal is as beautiful as friendship.”

Peirsol described his thoughts after the initial and subsequent results were announced, “I wasn’t too worried. I’m sad for those who thought they were on the podium and were thrown out of it after my race was made valid.”

Rogan, who was later awarded Austria’s 2004 Sports Personality of the Year, and the 2005 United Nations Medal of Honor for Civil Courage, explained his perspective. “Aaron is a very honest person. I am sure he swam fairly and it is just the way it should be.”

After graduating from Stanford University, Rogan spent three years at UCLA’s Department of Psychology researching performance psychology. Dr Rogan, PsyD, LMFT later became the Director of a Residential Depression and Addiction Rehab Center before starting an incredibly well-received private practice in Beverly Hills (see here).

Next Month in Lake Memphremagog

Dr. Rogan will join over 100 swimmers in Vermont’s Lake Memphremagog to compete in the annual Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival on February 21st and 22nd (see photos above from the 2025 event). If history proves to be a guide, the water temperature is expected to be under 1°C with the air under 0°C.

Race visionary Phil White announced, “The ice is getting thicker every day now and we are hard at it getting ready for the Winter Swimming Festival just weeks out. But, the days are getting longer, the annual Battle of January is almost won. Over the seasonal horizon, we can see the open water full upon us once again and the feel of the sun hot on our face. Our boats are already stirring in Effie’s Barn, restless to run again.

The Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival is the only two-lane, 25-meter winter swimming pool cut in the ice in all of the Americas. Two days of swimming in 25m 50m, 100m, and 200m races, plus the Hat competitions, the Flag and Ribbon Cutting, and Three Potato Gun Ceremony at the EastSide and Warm Up at Jasper’s Tavern on Friday and a Stay Play Jay Day on Monday.”

White is organizing the event for 12th consecutive year. He described his merry team of volunteers, “There is no group more loving, hardworking, and just plain tough, than our corps of hearty, battle hardened Volunteers. Escorts walked swimmers to and from the pool. Strippers helped swimmers on and off with their clothing. Hookers walked the pool with Pool Hooks at the ready to pull a swimmer. Pimps held the Hooker by a rope in case they need a pull themselves. Pole Dancers helped place the flag poles the day before the festival. Others included the Gunners, Timers, Go-Go Girls, Skimmers, and Huggers.