United States Merchant Marine Academy

Thomas Lihan was a four-year letter winner for the Mariners in both swimming and sailing. Tom earned All­ American Honors in sailing during four consecutive seasons, while guiding the Blue and Gray to the Intercollegiate National Doublehanded (1979 and 1982) and Singlehanded Sailing Championships (1982).  He also served as a team captain in 1981-82. In the pool, Tom was a finalist at the Metropolitan Swimming Championships four straight years. He broke the Academy Record in the 1650-yard Freestyle in 1980. After his graduation in 1982, Tom continued to sail on his Olympic Campaign and captured the 1982 Laser National Championship, 1982 U.S. Singlehanded Men's Championship and 1982 Championship of Champions. In 1983, he won the Finn National and Finn Midwinter Championships. In 1994, Tom participated in the Singlehanded Laser class for U.S. Trials for the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. After winning the trials, he joined the U.S. Team at the age of 34 and finished fourth at the Pan American Games.