Kristy Kowal

Kristy Kowal is an American former competition swimmer, an Olympic medalist, and a former world record-holder. Her sporting career is punctuated with numerous notable achievements. She secured the silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Kowal was also the first American woman to win a world championship title in the 100-meter breaststroke.

While contributing significantly to her college team, the Georgia Bulldogs swimming and diving team, Kowal helped them secure two NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships titles. Her exceptional performances didn't go unnoticed as she was named the NCAA swimmer of the year in 1999 and 2000. In addition to this, Kowal was the first American woman to break the one-minute barrier in the 100-yard breaststroke.

During her college career, Kowal secured eight NCAA titles and 10 U.S. Swimming national titles, setting eight American records and one world record in the process. Her phenomenal collegiate career culminated in her being named NCAA Woman of the Year in 2000. Subsequent to her swimming career, she transitioned into education and is currently serving as an Elementary School Teacher.

Kowal's contributions to the sport have been recognized through multiple Hall of Fame inductions. She was inducted into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009, the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, University of Georgia's Circle of Honor in 2012, and the Georgia Aquatic Hall of Fame in 2013.