Born: January 4, 1951 (United States)
Biography:
Patty Carreto revolutionized women’s swimming with her windmill stroke — a continuous arm turnover and a two beat kick. At just 13 years old, 98 pounds, and 5 feet 1 inch tall, she became the second youngest, shortest, and smallest “giant” to set a world record. Born on January 4, 1951, in the United States, Patricia Sarena Carreto, later known as Patricia Brown, left an indelible mark on the world of swimming.
Patty’s specialty was the 1500-meter freestyle, also known as the metric mile, a distance that was not yet included in the Olympics. In the summer of 1964, she became a national champion and a world record holder. However, her journey to the 1964 Olympics hit a roadblock when she failed to qualify in a 400-meter swim-off against three world record holders at the U.S. Olympic Trials in November. Ironically, the only younger world record holder ever was backstroker Karen Muir of South Africa, who also missed the 1964 Olympics due to her country’s ban.
Despite this setback, Patty continued to dominate the swimming world. In the spring of 1965, she emerged as the high point winner at the U.S. Indoor Nationals. That same year, she had the opportunity to meet and swim with Karen Muir when she toured South Africa, giving clinics and demonstrations.
Patty’s remarkable talent and relentless work ethic led her to break world records eight times in the 1500 and 800-meter freestyle events. She bested several Hall of Famers along the way, establishing herself as swimming’s queen of the mile. Her excellence extended beyond the metric mile, as she held American records from the quarter mile all the way up.
After achieving tremendous success in her swimming career, Patty retired following her participation in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. At the age of 17, she placed fifth in the final of the women’s 800-meter freestyle.
Following her retirement from competitive swimming, Patty married her Cal State Long Beach classmate in 1971. She then pursued a career in education, teaching physical education to students with motor-skill or learning disabilities in the Garden Grove Unified School District in California.
Patty Carreto’s impact on women’s swimming cannot be overstated. Her windmill stroke revolutionized the sport, and her records and achievements continue to inspire generations of swimmers. In recognition of her contributions, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in 1987.
Awards:
– World Records: 7 (800m, 1500m, 800yd, 1650yd freestyle; 1 relay)
– AAU Nationals: 5 (500yd, 1650yd, 1500m freestyle; 1 relay)
– American Records: 4 (800yd, 1650yd, 400m, 1500m freestyle; 1 relay)