Chris Helin

Position:
Individual Medley, Breaststroke, Backstroke
Height:
5-9
Weight:
160
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Setauket, N.Y.

Career Best Times: 1:47.81, 200 IM; 3:52.32, 400 IM; 1:48.14, 200 Back; 55.70, 100 Breast; 2:00.60, 200 Breast.

General: Named tri-captain by his teammates…has been a phenomenal performer in his three years as a Tar Heel…returning three-time letter winner who is unquestionably Carolina’s most versatile swimmer and one of the most versatile in the Atlantic Coast Conference…a strong force in the individual medley events...also a solid performer in the backstroke and breaststroke events...also skilled in the butterfly…2000 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in multiple events.

Summer 2001: Had a great summer of swimming...at the 2001 summer National Championships, he finished eighth in the 400 I.M., 13th in the 200 I.M., 21st in the 200 breast followed directly by a 22nd place finish in the 200 back...at the Southern Sectional meet in Athens, Ga. he took second in both of the IM events and was fifth in both breaststroke events.

2000-2001: Made it three years in a row that he has won the Nike Cup 200 I.M. title...he also added the 400 I.M. crown as well as victories as a member of Carolina’s first place 200 and 400 medley relays...was chosen the team’s Most Valuable Swimmer…at the 2001 ACC Championships, he finished second in the 200 I.M., fifth in the 400 I.M., and 11th in the 200 breast...was named first team All-ACC for the second year in a row...named ACC Swimmer of the Week on January 15, 2001 and February 5, 2001…selected to the Dean’s List for the spring semester…also an ACC Academic Honor Roll member.

1999-2000: Repeated as Nike Cup champion in the 200 IM...also added the 100 breaststroke title…at the 2000 ACC Championships, he finished second in the 400 IM (3:52.32), third in the 200 IM (1:47.81), and fourth in the 200 back (1:48.10)…achieved All-ACC recognition for his performance in the 400 IM…his 400 IM time was the second best performance ever by a Tar Heel, his 200 IM clocking placed him third all-time and his 200 back performance put him fourth among the Tar Heel greats…also turned in other lifetime bests at the third Tar Heel Invitational in the 100 breast (55.70), which placed him sixth all-time, and the 200 breast (2:00.60), which was the eighth-best performance ever by a Tar Heel.

1998-99: Won the 1998 Nike Cup championship in the 200-yard individual medley...at the 1999 ACC Championships, he finished fifth in both the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medley events and eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke, and was also a member of the 400 medley relay that placed third...finished 20th in the 200-meter backstroke at 1999 summer U.S. Nationals with a time of 2:05.28.

Prep: A two-sport athlete in high school, he competed in both basketball and swimming...graduated June 28, 1998 from Ward Melville High School...captain of the swim team his senior year...also the team’s most valuable swimmer that year...Northeast Junior National Champion and record holder in the 400 IM...senior national qualifier in the 200 and 400 IM and the 200 backstroke...placed 16th at the Senior National Championships in the 200 backstroke...a high honor roll student...received the Gold Academic Certificate and the Presidential Education Award...was also active in community service projects at his high school.

Personal: Given name is Christopher Eero Helin...nicknamed “Toonces”...is the son of Dee Helin and Ronald Helin...born February 24, 1980...has one sister, who received a full swimming scholarship to Boston University...when not swimming, he enjoys playing basketball...athlete he most admires is teammate Ben Davidson because he once held the 11-12 50-yard freestyle national age group record...voted as having the nicest hair in his high school senior class superlatives...his biggest sports thrills have been running with Frank Comfort and tearing down the goalpost after UNC’s recent victory over Florida State in football...economics major...undecided on his career plans.