2019 BYU Hall of Fame

Arunas Savickas started his swimming career at BYU in 1997 and by the time he finished his time as a Cougar in 2001, he had been named an All-American six times, the most in BYU men’s swimming history. 

Savickas was an impressive competitor from the beginning. He was named the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and set multiple program records. At the 1998 NCAA Championships, he placed seventh in the 200-yard backstroke to earn his first All-America recognition in that event. 

As a sophomore, he went undefeated in regular season competition, winning every individual race and earning WAC Swimmer of the Year. He also placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke at the 1999 European Championships and 11th in the 200-yard backstroke at the 1999 World Short Course Championships. 

During his junior year, Savickas was named All-MWC in three events and claimed a league-high four MWC Swimmer of the Week recognitions to help the Cougars win the MWC title. He kept his three-year All-American streak and participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a member of the Lithuanian National Team, doing so for the second time after also competing in the 1996 Summer Games. 

In his final season at BYU, Savickas set a Mountain West Conference meet record and was a member of the 400-yard medley relay team that helped BYU win the Mountain West Conference championship. His finish in the 200 free at the NCAA Championships gave him six citations in four seasons. 

Throughout Savickas’ career, he broke a total of nine BYU program records, six conference records and five Lithuanian national records on his way to becoming a 12-time conference champion. 

Following his time as a Cougar, Savickas coached swimmers in Northern Ireland, many of which became champion swimmers and one a Commonwealth Youth silver medalist. Savickas has been active in teaching disabled children to swim and has run weekly swim classes for underprivileged children. He now serves as a community nurse.

In 2002, Savickas completed his bachelor’s degree in business management. He and his wife, Lara, reside in Brighton, United Kingdom. Arunas has three children: Alexander, Denzel and Sophie. 

WAC Freshman of the Year...set BYU records in 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 100 back, and 200 back...WAC champ in 500 free, 100 back and 200 back...7th at NCAA Championships and First Team All-America in 200 back...12th at NCAA Championships and Second Team All-America in 200 free...20th in the 500 free at the NCAA Championships...competed in National Championships in the summer

Did not lose an individual race in regular season competition...took first place in three events at WAC Championships, more than any other swimmer...was named WAC Swimmer of the Year...placed 13th in 200 free and 17th in 200 back at NCAA's...Second-team All-American...took 11th place in 200 back at World Short Course Championships in Hong Kong, breaking own Lithuanian national record...also placed 18th in 200 free and 24th in 100 free in same meet...placed fourth at 1999 European Championships in 100 meter backstroke...competes in backstroke and freestyle. BYU Record Holder: 100 free (44.48), 200 free (1:36.37), 500 free (4:23.01), 100 back (48.01), 200 back (1:43.93), 200 medley relay (1:29.59), 400 medley relay (3:15.71), 400 free relay (2:58.39), 800 free relay (6:36.43) WAC Record Holder: 200 back (1:43.93)

Continued as team's leading freestyle and backstroke specialist, racking up team-best times in the 100, 200 and 500 free as well as 100 and 200 back events...won 16 of 20 individual events, including conference titles in teh 100 and 200 back...All-MWC in three events...named MWC Men's Swimmer of the Week a league-high four times...preserved three-year All-America streak with 16th place finish at 2000 NCAA Championships...participated in 2000 Sydney Olympics as member of Lithuanian national team.

Cougar Club Scholar Athlete...earned his sixth All-America citation, the most ever by a male swimmer in BYU history, by finishing 14th in the 200 free at the NCAA Championships...MWC Champion in both the 200 and 100 back, in which he set a new meet record...runner-up in the 500 free at the conference championships...member of 400-medley relay team that won MWC championship and set new pool and meet record...won 17 individual events during the regular season, including three first-place finishes at the prestigious Speedo Cup...broke his own school record in the 500 free (4:21.39) at the Speedo Cup...set a pool record in the 500 free (4:27.13) on Jan. 6 against Washington...set a pool record in the 1000 free (9:26.52) on Jan. 13 against Wyoming...two-time MWC Swimmer of the Week.