In a tragic turn of events, Richard Thornton, a highly regarded Bay Area swim coach and former U.S. Olympian, died at the age of 65 while preparing to surf at The Hook in Santa Cruz. The news was confirmed by his brother, Marc Thornton, in a heartfelt Facebook post.

Initial reports suggested that Thornton died while surfing, but his family clarified that he passed away while entering the water. The exact cause of his death remains unknown. Emergency crews responded to a medical emergency at The Hook on Thursday, where they attempted CPR and life-saving measures, according to Nigel Miller, the division chief for the Central Fire Department.

Richard Thornton had been receiving treatment for blood cancer in recent times, as revealed in a KTVU report. Despite his health battles, he continued to pursue his passions, and his brother emphasized that Thornton died "doing what he loved."

Thornton had an exceptional career in the swimming world. He was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, although the team ultimately boycotted the Summer Games in Moscow that year due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. As the head coach of San Ramon Valley Aquatics since 1984, Thornton left an indelible mark on the sport. He had the privilege of coaching numerous American and international Olympians, as well as NCAA All-Americans.

Fellow competitive swimmer and former teammate David Santos paid tribute to Thornton in a heartfelt Facebook post, reminiscing about their shared experiences. "He said goodbye to this earth with sand between his toes, and a surfboard by his side," Santos wrote.

Richard Thornton came from a family deeply involved in swimming. His father, Nort Thornton, served as the long-time swim coach at UC Berkeley. Amid the outpouring of grief and remembrance, those who knew Richard fondly shared their memories in the comment section of Marc Thornton's Facebook post.

"Rich had one of the biggest impacts on my life. He was an outstanding person and someone I truly loved and respected," wrote Sarah Anderson Cramer. "By the end of my swimming career, I considered him a member of the family."

The swimming community mourns the loss of Richard Thornton, a true icon and mentor in the sport. His dedication, passion, and profound impact on the lives of countless athletes will be remembered for years to come.