Alex Righi

Brophy Jesuit College Preparatory School

Phoenix,

Arizona

Impact Statement

“I have never had any doubt that I made the right decision to come to Yale.” -Alex Righi

Biography

Righi set a state record (48.00) in winning the 100-meter backstroke as a senior, also won the 100 freestyle (44.76) and came within one-hundredth of a second of tying former Olympian and Brophy great Gary Hall Jr.’s state record in the 50 freestyle (20.31) while swimming the first leg of the 200 freestyle relay, a race his teammates went on to win in a state record time.

In the Spring Junior Nationals in March Righi won five events and set four meet records – in the 100 freestyle (44.24), the 50 backstroke (22.12), the 100 backstroke (47.63) and the 50 butterfly (21.99). His 100 butterfly time shattered the existing record by nearly 1½ seconds, earning him Male Performance of the Meet honors.

Righi went on to attend Yale University and became one of the most celebrated Bulldogs in history. He was honored as team caption his senior year and praised for his leadership in and out of the pool.

In 2008 his times at the NCAA Championships qualifed for the Olympic Team Trials. In 2009, Righi was honored with the Moriarty Award, which is Swimmer of the Meet at the Ivy League Championships. He also became a three- time All American at the NCAA Tournament.

Over Graduation weekend, Righi was honored as the William Neely Mallory Awardee, given to the top senior male student-athlete.