Richard Funk

Richard Funk
Richard Funk is a Canadian swimmer, originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Funk is a senior at the University of Michigan, where he’s acted as team captain for the past season – he’ll soon receive his degree from the School of Literature, Science and the Arts. He’s been swimming since he was a youth, and entered into his first competitive race at age 9. During his career at Michigan, Funk earned nine NCAA All-America honors, and he earned three in his senior season. At 5’11” Funk is a breaststroke specialist; he even swam the breaststroke leg on the 200 and 400 medley relays as just a freshman. In 2010 Funk graduated from Strathcona High School – he did not swim in high school, but instead trained with Edmonton Keyano Swim Club. In fact swimming was not his primary sport; Funk was a hockey player until the age of 16, when the finished out at the AAA level. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Funk created headlines all over the swimming world. The combination of his nationality and full name left many people questioning, “CAN Richard Funk?”

Michigan
2011-2012
As a freshman Funk wasted no time making a direct impact. He qualified for the NCAA Championships, and finished 17th (first alternate) in the 200 breaststroke. Funk also swam on the 400 medley and 200 medley relays that won the Big Ten Championships.

2012-2013
Funk was named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week Oct. 9. After not scoring individually at the NCAA meet his freshman year, Funk made the ‘A’ final in both breaststroke events. He picked up a bronze in the 100 breaststroke, and finished seventh in the 200, helping his team win the NCAA title. He earned three All-America honors his sophomore season, and he also was the Big Ten Champion as a member of the 400 medley relay.

2013-2014
As a junior Funk earned three additional All-America honors in the breaststroke events and as a member of the 400 medley relay. He finished in the top eight again, picking up a third in the 100 breaststroke and a seventh in the 200 breaststroke. He earned Big Ten Swimmer of the Week on two occasions – Oct. 29 and Jan. 21.

2014-2015
Funk is currently in his senior season as a Michigan Wolverine. He finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke, and eighth in the 200 breaststroke while also picking up a ninth All-America honor in the 400 medley relay at the NCAA meet. Funk won the 100 breaststroke at the AT&T Winter Nationals.

International Competition
Competing for Canada, Richard Funk started his development on the 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Team, where he finished fourth in the 100m breaststroke. At the 2012 Canadian Summer Nationals, Funk competed in the 50m breaststroke, swimming the no. three-fastest time in Canada history. In 2013 he earned a spot on the FINA World Championship roster after winning the 100m breaststroke at the Canadian trials. He even declined a swim-off in the 200m breaststroke to give Ashton Baumann a chance to earn a spot on the team too.

He’s also competed at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, 2013 World University Games, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games. At the 2014 Canada Trials, Funk swam a time in the 100m breaststroke that ranks him sixth in the world.

2017 World Championships

Funk won a bronze medal as a member of Canada’s 400 meter mixed medley relay. He swam the breaststroke leg in 59.14. The Canadian quartet combined in 3:41.25 to tie for third with China and just 0.04 off Australia who took the silver.