Olympic Medalist
Educator
Athlete Development Specialist
About Kristy
Kristy Kowal is an Olympic silver medallist (Sydney, 2000) in the 200-meter breaststroke and one of the most accomplished swimmers in US and NCAA history. During her 10 year career on the US Swimming National team, she won multiple international medals in addition to breaking 8 American Records and 1 World Record.
After retiring from competition in 2004, and receiving an MAeD in Elementary Education, Kowal dedicated 14 years to teaching, coaching swimming, mentoring athletes, and developing her unique method for parent education and training.
Today, in addition to mentoring, philanthropic work and appearances, Kowal travels the country hosting her highly sought after workshops for athlete parents called “Parents in the Game”.
Stats:
The first American woman to win gold in the 100m breaststroke at the World Championships (1998).
8-time NCAA champion and a 24-time NCAA All American for the University of Georgia.
In 1998 became the first American woman to break the elusive one-minute barrier in the 100 yard breaststroke.
Awarded the 2000 NCAA Woman of the year for her commitment to academics, athletics and community service.
The story behind the diamond…
“From 1986 to 2000, Olympic Trial qualification took place at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis Indiana. The history of this natatorium is rich and possibly the most special thing about it is the Wall of Olympians. Every Olympian to qualify for the Olympic Games in that pool had their name hand painted on the back wall of the natatorium by artist, Jay Soule. I've been asked many times why my name has a special red diamond painted inside the in the “O” of “Kowal.
It all comes down to a Thank You. The evening after I qualified for the 2000 Olympic Team, Mr. Soule had just finished painting my name on the wall and I went over to thank him. I felt incredibly honored that he was taking his talent and time to free sketch my name on that beautiful wall, helping me leave my mark on history. That next night he asked me to come up in his lift and paint a red diamond in the O of my name. When I asked him why, he told me no one had ever thanked him before. A Thank You is a powerful thing.” - Kristy Kowal
