second-to-last at the 300-metre mark. However he finished strong, and in a photo finish, claimed the silver medal with a time of 3:47.14 behind East German Uwe Dassler's new world-record time of 3:46.95. He had cut more than five seconds off his previous personal best; all three medallists—Dassler, Armstrong and Artur Wojdat—broke the previous 400-metre freestyle world record. Armstrong was also a member of the Australian team that finished fourth in the men's 4×200-metre freestyle relay. For his Olympic successes, he was awarded the Young Australian of the Year award for 1988. Armstrong attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he swam for the Florida Gators swimming and diving team under coach Randy Reese in 1988 and 1989. He won Southeastern Conference titles in the 500-yard freestyle and the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays, and was named an All-American in the 400- and 800-metre freestyle relays in 1989. Armstrong was again the favourite at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. However, a bout of glandular fever forced him to withdraw. He was selected to compete at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona as a member of the Australian team in the men's 4×200-metre freestyle relay, but the Australians were disqualified in the event final. He retired from competitive swimming after the 1992 Olympics. In June 1998, at the age of 30, he announced that he would come out of retirement and commence training for the 200-metre freestyle for the 2000 Summer Olympics, as Australia was expected to be a favourite in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay event in Sydney. However, after two months of training, Armstrong announced that he would abandon his comeback and retire again. Life after competition swimming Armstrong married American Olympic swimmer Tami Bruce in 1989; they have two sons. Armstrong and Bruce later divorced. He has three children with his second wife, Rebecca. He is a practicing Christian, and often speaks on Christian-related subjects. Armstrong has worked as an expert swimming commentator on Channel Nine's Wide World of Sports; he has presented the swimming coverage for Fox Sports, and hosted Fox Sports Central on Sunday. He is a well-known swimming safety advocate, and has also coached young swimmers. He has been a commercial spokesman for Centrum multivitamins and Cardiotech fitness equipment. He received a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to swimming in 1989, an Australian Sports Medal in