Kristy Kowal represented Team USA in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia where she earned a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke. As a breaststroke specialist, Kowal was also the first American woman to break one minute in the 100 breaststroke. Originally a Pennsylvania native, Kowal attended the University of Georgia where she was part of two Bulldog NCAA National Championship teams. Kowal has been named NCAA Swimmer of the Year (1999 and 2000), NCAA Woman of the Year (2000), and a recipient of Today’s Top VIII Award (2001), an honor bestowed on eight senior student-athletes each year. Since then, she has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame (2009), the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (2010), and University of Georgia’s Circle of Honor (2012).

Kowal is currently an elementary teacher in Pennsylvania. She remains involved in the swimming world through Swim Across America and Mutual of Omaha Breakout! Swim Clinics.

Career Highlights

• 2000 USA Olympic Team silver medalist
• 1998 World Championship gold and silver medalist
• 2001 World Championship silver medalist
• 1997 Pan-Pacific gold and bronze medalist
• 1999 Pan-Pacific silver and bronze medalist
• 2002 Pan-Pacific bronze medalist
• 24x NCAA All-American
• American and World Record Holder