Born: May 12, 1966 (Whitby, Ontario, Canada)
Biography:
Anne Ottenbrite (born May 12, 1966) is a Canadian former breaststroke swimmer, who won three medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles: gold (200-metre breaststroke), silver (100-metre breaststroke), and bronze (4×100-metre medley relay). In the last event, she was accompanied by Reema Abdo, Michelle MacPherson, and Pamela Rai. Ottenbrite attended the University of Southern California and swam for the USC Trojans swimming and diving team.
Anne Ottenbrite was born in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, on May 12, 1966. From a young age, Ottenbrite showed a natural talent for swimming breaststroke. At the age of three, she began swimming in her family’s backyard pool and quickly developed a whip kick technique. Her exceptional flexibility and double-jointedness allowed her to utilize an undulating upper-body movement in her stroke, which became her signature style.
At the age of 12, Ottenbrite joined the Oshawa Aquatic Club, where she began swimming competitively. Under the guidance of her first coach, Lynne Trimbee, Ottenbrite focused on improving her stroke technique. Despite being tall and lanky, standing at 5’8 ¾ and weighing 132 pounds, Ottenbrite’s unique body structure enabled her to excel in breaststroke.
In 1981, Ottenbrite moved to the Ajax Aquatic Club and began training under coach Paul Meroneu. Meroneu introduced more intensive workouts and emphasized quality pool and dry land training. The combination of Meroneu’s coaching and Ottenbrite’s natural talent propelled her to become one of the world’s leading breaststrokers within a year.
Between 1981 and 1984, Ottenbrite achieved remarkable success in international competitions. She won silver and bronze medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke at the 1982 World Championships in Guayaquil. In the same year, she also secured gold and silver medals in the 200-metre and 100-metre breaststroke events at the Commonwealth Games. Additionally, Ottenbrite won five Canadian National Championships in the breaststroke discipline and was named Canada’s Female Swimmer of the Year twice.
However, Ottenbrite faced a major setback just before the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She accidentally dislocated her knee, which left her unable to kick and restricted her workouts to only pulling exercises. Remarkably, her exceptional flexibility aided her in rehabilitation, and she was able to recover in time to compete.
Competing in the 1984 Olympics was a defining moment in Ottenbrite’s career. She showcased her skills and determination, winning gold in the 200-metre breaststroke, silver in the 100-metre breaststroke, and bronze in the 4×100-metre medley relay. Ottenbrite’s accomplishments at the Olympics solidified her status as one of Canada’s most successful swimmers.
Throughout her career, Anne Ottenbrite made significant contributions to women’s history in the sports world. Not only did she excel in her chosen discipline, but she also overcame obstacles and setbacks to achieve greatness. Ottenbrite’s unique swimming technique and athleticism inspired future generations of female swimmers. She demonstrated the importance of perseverance, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence, leaving a lasting impact on both Canadian and international swimming.
Awards:
– 1984 Summer Olympics: Gold (200-metre breaststroke), Silver (100-metre breaststroke), Bronze (4×100-metre medley relay)
– 1982 World Championships: Silver (100-metre breaststroke), Bronze (200-metre breaststroke)
– 1982 Commonwealth Games: Gold (200-metre breaststroke), Silver (100-metre breaststroke)
– 1983 Pan American Games: Gold (100-metre breaststroke, 4×100-metre medley relay)
– Canadian Games: Gold (100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke, 4×100-metre medley relay)
– 5 Canadian National Championships: 3 short course, 2 long course (breaststroke)