Beth Barr

For the American historian, see Beth Allison Barr.
Beth Barr
Personal information
Full nameElizabeth Cynthia Barr
Nickname"Beth"
National teamUnited States
Born (1971-12-17) December 17, 1971 (age 52)
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight132 lb (60 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubGreater Pensacola AC
(formerly PJC Aquatics)
College teamUniversity of Texas 1995
CoachSteve Bultman
Greater Pensacola AC (PJC)[1]
Mark Schubert
University of Texas
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul 4x100 m medley
Pan Pacific Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Brisbane 200 m backstroke

Elizabeth Cynthia Barr (born December 17, 1971), later known by her married name Beth Isaak,[2] is an American former competition swimmer for the University of Texas who was a backstroke specialist and 1988 Seoul Olympic silver medalist for the United States in the women's 4×100-meter medley relay. After her swimming career ended, she worked as a lobbyist, and in public relations in Washington D.C., and Phoenix, Arizona, and in 2010 returned to her native Pensacola to teach and coach swimming with her company BARRacuda Swimming Works.[3]

Barr was born on December 17, 1971 to parents Laura and Hugh Barr.[4] She grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and first competed in a swimming race around the age of six. She swam in the Junior Nationals at age 11 and 12, and at the age of 13, was selected to attend the U.S. Nationals at Mission Viejo, California. During her High School years, she trained and competed with Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club (GPAC) (Formerly known as Pensacola Junior College Aquatics) under Hall of Fame Coach Steve Bultman. In February 1986, swimming for Greater Penasacola in the 13-14 year old age group, Barr won the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.59, the 100 backstroke with a time of 58.71, and the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:14.25 at the Eastern Swim Classic in Atlanta, Georgia.[5] While swimming for the Greater Pensacola Club at the highly competitive U.S. Nationals in March 1986 in Orlando, Florida, Barr won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.73.[6][7] She attended Woodham High School in her early High School Years through December, 1986, but was reassigned or transferred to Booker T. Washington High School by October 1987 where she graduated in 1989.[8][9]

Barr broke the state record at the 1986 Florida State Championship in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.54 in the preliminaries, though she later placed second in the event in the finals. At the 1986 Florida State Championship, she also swam on Woodham High's second place team in the 200-yard medley relay. She was subsequently named "Girls Athlete of the Year" by the Pensacola Journal.[10][11][12]

  1. ^ "Texas A&M Staff, Steve Bultman". 12thman.com.
  2. ^ Linton Weeks, "Former U.S. Olympians: Then And Now," National Public Radio (August 6, 2008). Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Olympedia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kolbe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Swimming, Eastern Swim Classic", Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Florida, 10 February 1986, pg. 30
  6. ^ "Swimming, U.S. National Championships", Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Florida, 30 March 1986, pg. 56
  7. ^ Gilzow, James, "Barr Takes Aim at '88 Olympics, Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Florida, 8 October 1987, pg. 32
  8. ^ Reeves, D.C., "Washington Grad Reflects on the Empty Feeling", Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Florida, 10 August 2008, pg. 37
  9. ^ Bianchi, Mike, "Wayte, Gators, Take Charge at U.S. Open, Swimming", Florida Today, 6 December 1986, pg. 29
  10. ^ Harrell, Karen, "Area's Best Athletes, Swimming", Pensacola Journal, Pensacola, Florida, 4 December 1986, pg. 38
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference sroprofile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Vilona, Bill, Blue Wahoos will honor trio of iconic Pensacola athletes at Women in Sports Night". sports.yahoo.com.