Richard Thornton (circa 1959 – January 4, 2024) was an American competition swimmer for the University of California Berkeley from 1977-1980, a 1980 Olympic Team member and a nationally recognized, long serving coach for the San Ramon Valley Aquatics Swim Club from 1984 to 2024.

[1][2] As a Junior at Campolindo High School in Morago, California, in April 1975, he won the Alameda County Flecto Sports Award for leading Campolindo to the Foothill Athletic League Championship for the best record that season by winning three events at their meet with Acalanes High School.

He graduated Berkeley in 1980 which a Bachelor's in Physical Education, and[2] began his coaching career after earning a master's degree at St. Mary's.

[8] Nationally recognized for his skills and his team's accomplishments, Thornton was a recipient of the American Swimming Coaches Association Award of Excellence from 1988 to 1994.

He coached Stanford swimmer Pan Pacific Championships gold medalist Sarah Anderson from 1990 to 1995, and 1988 Olympic finalist for Czechoslovakia, Alex Marcek from 1990 to 1992.