Caulkins, Tracy (1963–)

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Caulkins, Tracy (1963–)

American swimmer. Born Jan 11, 1963, in Winona, Minnesota; grew up in Nashville, Tennessee; attended University of Florida, 1981–85.

Won 48 titles, becoming the most victorious woman swimmer in history (1981), eclipsing the records of Ann Curtis; won 200-meter and 400-meter indiv. medleys at Pan American Games (1982); won 3 gold medals—the 200-meter indiv. medley, 400-meter indiv. medley, and the 400-meter relay—at Los Angeles Olympics (1984); set NCAA records in 4 indiv. events (200-meter indiv. medley, 400-meter indiv. medley, 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter butterfly) and 2 relay events (800-meter freestyle and 400-meter freestyle). Was the youngest recipient of the Sullivan Memorial Trophy at 16 (1979); awarded Broderick Cup as outstanding collegiate athlete of year (1983–84); selected by US Olympic Committee as "female athlete of the year" (1984); elected to Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1986); inducted into International Swimming Hall of Fame (1990).

See also Women in World History.