Keena Ruth Rothhammer (born February 26, 1957) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Keena Ruth Rothhammer | ||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1957-02-26) February 26, 1957 (age 65) Little Rock, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 146 lb (66 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Strokes | Freestyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Santa Clara Swim Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Rothhammer was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is Jewish.[1]
As a teenager, she grew up in Santa Clara, California[2] and trained with the Santa Clara Swim Club in Santa Clara under the coach George Haines, who was noted for leading U.S. Olympic swimmers during the 1960s and 1970s.
As a 15-year-old, Rothhammer represented the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. She won the gold medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle and set a new world record in the event twice, on successive days.[1] She also won the bronze medal in the women's 200-meter freestyle at the 1972 Olympics. At the 1973 World Aquatics Championships, she won the 200-meter freestyle and finished second in the 400-meter freestyle.[3] The same year, she was named North American Athlete of the Year.[1]
She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1991.[4]
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Records | ||
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Preceded by | Women's 400-meter freestyle world record-holder (long course) August 22, 1973 – June 28, 1974 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Women's 800-meter freestyle world record-holder (long course) September 3, 1972 – September 9, 1973 |
Succeeded by |
1972 USA Olympic swimming team | ||
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Men's team |
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Women's team |
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Coaches |
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World long-course champions in women's 200 m freestyle | |
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