Former SMU men's swimming standout, Chad Hundeby, who became a renowned competitor in open water events, passed away suddenly at the age of 50 on Saturday, June 12.

As a Mustang, Hundeby earned All-America honors in 1990, 1991 and 1993. Hundeby still holds the SMU marks in the 1,000 free (9:07.85) and 1,650 free (15:05.83).
 
"Chad was part of my first class I recruited as head coach here at SMU during the '88-'89 season," said Head Coach Greg Rhodenbaugh. "Chad was part of reshaping and rebuilding our distance program into one of the most competitive ones at that time. He was a fierce competitor but humble and laid back in his approach," Rhodenbaugh added.
 
Hundeby, an open-water swimmer from Irvine, Calif., captured the 25K at the FINA World Championships, racing on the Swan River in Perth, Australia in 1991. He broke a 16-year-old English Channel Crossing record in 1994 and dominated every major long-distance race in the world during his career. In 1994, he set a then-world record for swimming the English Channel in a time of seven hours, 17 minutes.
 
Hundeby also set a record for swimming the Catalina Channel in eight hours and 14 minutes. Hundeby was named U.S. open water swimmer of the year in 1991, 1993 and 1994, long before the discipline was added to the Olympic lineup. He was elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
"I am glad that we had gotten to reconnect over this last year. SMU has lost a great alum and advocate." said Rhodenbaugh.
 
Hundeby, who worked as a teacher, is survived by his wife, Jean Marie, sons Anders, Hayden, and Marcus, brother, Coleman, and parents Ted and Jan of Irvine.