Focus on the Olympics: Natalie Coughlin (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

24 May 2008 08:31 AM

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Natalie is a fantastic role model for young women with her comeback from a shoulder injury and her focus on recovery and excellence. She found that excellence in 2004 and she's looking forward to more in 2008.

Meet Natalie Coughlin

Natalie Anne Coughlin is the oldest daughter of James, a police officer, and Zennie, a paralegal. Her younger sister, Megan, attended UC Davis. She was awarded a full four-year scholarship to UC Berkeley, and volunteered for two year after graduation as an assistant coach under the guidance of personal and team coach Teri McKeever. She co-wrote a book with Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver, entitled Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom, and Became America's Olympic Champion. Natalie joined Shirley Babashoff, Shannon Miller, Mary Lou Retton and Dara Torres as the only U.S. women to win five medals in one set of Olympic Games in 2004 when she became an Olympic medalist.

Natalie attributes some of her success to her dry-land training, which includes dance and pilates classes. She's also interested in underwater and up-close photography.

Why Root for Her?

Natalie suffered a disappointing setback in 1999 in the form of a shoulder injury. Although she suffered through regular practices and many major meets, the biggest disappointment was not qualifying for any events at the 2000 Olympic Trials. Natalie fought her way through physical therapy and returned to the peak form that wins races and sets records.

By the time the 2004 Olympic Trials came around, Natalie was ready. She became just the third American woman to win five Olympic medals at one meet, including golds in the 100m backstroke and as a member of the world record-setting 4x200m freestyle relay. At the 2007 World Championships, she broke her own five-year-old world record in the 100m backstroke. To date, she has won 22 international medals (10 gold), set five individual world records, 16 individual American records and earned 13 U.S. National titles. Additionally in 2007, she became the most decorated female swimmer in world championships history.

Performance History

• 2007 World Championships 100m backstroke gold medalist and world record-holder
• 2007 World Championships 800m freestyle relay gold medalist and world record-holder
• 2007 World Championships 400m freestyle relay silver medalist and American record-holder
• 2007 World Championships 100m butterfly bronze medalist and American record-holder
• 2004 Olympic Games 100m backstroke and 800m freestyle relay gold medalist & world-record holder; 400m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay silver medalist; 100m freestyle bronze medalist

The U.S. Swim team trials take place from June 29th to July 6th in Omaha, Nebraska.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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