Born and raised in northern California, Summer Sanders found her passion in swimming. Influenced by her brother Trevor, she started swimming at age 4. Her first race, despite the fear and tears, introduced her to the feeling of accomplishment, which later served as a driving motivation in every aspect of her life.
Sanders's swimming career took her to Stanford University on a scholarship, where she received back-to-back NCAA Swimmer of the Year awards in just two years as a collegiate swimmer. Her crowning achievement was being part of the 1992 National Championship team with Stanford. That summer, at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Sanders won four medals – two gold, a silver, and a bronze, becoming the most decorated U.S. swimmer. Her focus then shifted to television.
Over the course of her 25-year television career, Sanders worked with CBS Sports, MTV, major networks, and news programs such as the "Today Show," "Good Morning America," and "Rachael Ray." Sanders also had the distinction of being the first female game-show host on Nickelodeon's "Figure It Out" and co-hosted NBA's "Inside Stuff." Sanders continued her involvement with sports through her decision to work as an Olympic analyst and host for NBC and as a sideline reporter for the NBA, WNBA, and the US Open. She hosted Fox's "The Sports List" show and contributed to NBC's Universal Sports Network. Sanders was also the face of Yahoo! Sports' award-winning web series Elite Athlete Workout and their 2012 Olympic Games swimming coverage.
Currently, Sanders can be seen on CBS Sports Network's all-female roundtable sports show, "We Need To Talk." In addition to her television career, Sanders is a health and fitness advocate, producing articles, tips, and workouts for various outlets. She is actively involved in philanthropy, volunteering as a spokesperson for John Wayne Cancer Foundation's "Block The Blaze" campaign and working as a Right to Play Ambassador. Sanders is also involved in new ventures with her production company, Black Line Media.
On a more personal note, Sanders takes pride in being a mother and wife. Married to fellow Olympian, Erik Schlopy, an alpine skiing athlete who competed in three Olympic Games, they have two children, Skye and Spider. Along with her professional and personal responsibilities, Sanders enjoys the balancing act of athletics, managing her children's carpool, and working in front of the camera. Despite her Olympic background, the most frequently asked question she gets is not about her experience in the Olympics, but whether her children will become swimmers or skiers.
Sanders is incredibly passionate about giving back to the community. She has been associated with Right To Play, a global organization, for over 20 years and is on their US Board of Directors. She also supports the USA Swimming Foundation's mission of teaching every child in the USA to swim.
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