Marcus James Titus (born May 20, 1986) is a deaf American swimmer who has made it as far as eighth place in the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Titus can hear a close-up conversation at about fifty percent capacity when wearing a device in his right ear.

His interpreter, Hans Ferguson, helps him communicate better at meets by using hand signals to inform him when to take his mark and begin the race.

There Titus earned four varsity letters in swimming and was named High School All-American as a senior.

[2] Titus also gained the title of a multiple All-American in breaststroke and in medley relay events, placing second in the 2008 NCAAs.

With the help of his coach, Frank Busch, Titus made the USA National team three years in a row gaining him recognition.

This along with all the other big events he has attended and placed well, such as NCAA's, US Open, and the Olympic trials has helped to make him one of the most renowned deaf swimmers in United States.

[4] At Arizona State University in 2006, Titus acquired a personal best time of 54.28 in the 100m breast at the Pac-10 Championships, setting a new school record.

[6] Titus also gained the title of a multiple All-American in breaststroke and in medley relay events, placing second in the 2008 NCAAs.

Hoping to make it in the 2012 Olympic trials, Titus competed in the Pan American Games, in Guadalajara, Mexico, to help prepare.

"[12] Other than through his success in swimming, he has also made a positive change for deaf swimmers in races and competitions.

After much work and effort put towards getting hand signals in the rule book, US swimming finally deems them mandatory.

In a sport that is decided by only fractions of a second, this allows deaf swimmers to be able to do their best during competition without as many obstacles.

[3] USA Swimming decided to allow hand signals at the U.S. Olympic trials, thanks to Titus and his fan base, to accommodate deaf swimmers.

[13] When this didn't work, Titus set up a Facebook page to get fans to e-mail USA swimming officials.

Before, they only used strobe lights, which is good for deaf and hearing-impaired swimmers to know when to start the race, but not any other cue.