Coughlin, Natalie (1982–)

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Coughlin, Natalie (1982–)

American swimmer. Born Aug 23, 1982, in Vallejo, California; attended University of California, Berkeley.

At World championships, won a gold medal for 100-meter backstroke and 4×200-meter freestyle relay (2001) and 4×100-meter freestyle relay (2003); at SC World Cup in New York, placed 1st in 50-;, 100- and 200-meter backstroke (2001 and 2002), 50- and 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter indiv. medley (2002); won a bronze medal for 100-meter freestyle, silver medals for 4×100-meter relay and 4×100-meter medley relay, and gold medals for 100-meter backstroke and 4×200-meter freestyle relay at Athens Olympics (2004); was the 1st woman to go under 1 minute for the 100-meter backstroke (2002). Named Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year (2003).