Mary Freeman (swimmer)

Mary Freeman
As U. of Pennsylvania Coach circa 1960
Personal information
Full nameMary Gray Freeman
National team United States
Born (1933-10-30) October 30, 1933 (age 91)
Bangor, Maine, U.S.
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, Individual Medley
ClubWalter Reed Swim Club
CoachJim Campbell
Biographical details
Alma materGeorge Washington University
Playing career
1948-1953[1]Walter Reed Swimming Club
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1955-1968Vespar Boat Club
Women's Swim Team
Philadelphia
1960[1]U. of Pennsylvania
Women's Swim Team
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1961 National Championship
(Vespar Boat Club)
'61 '66 AAU Nat. Outdoor Team Champs
56-58 Eastern U.S.
& Middle Atlantic Champs
(Vespar Boat Club)
Awards
International Swimming Hall of Fame
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Mary Gray Freeman (born October 30, 1933), also known by her former married name Mary Kelly, as Mary Freeman Kelly and by her subsequent married name Mary Spitzer, is an American former competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland in the 100-meter backstroke. After leaving competitive swimming in 1953, she became a Hall of Fame swim coach for Philadelphia's Vespar Boat Club from 1955-68 and coached the Women's Team at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. Recognized as one of the most outstanding women coaches of her era, in 1964 she was the first woman to be recommended as an American Olympic coach but declined the nomination, believing a man should take the honor as they were more reliant on earning wages to live.[2][1]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference ishofprofile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mary Freeman". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2012.