Born: 1946
Sharon Evans Finneran (born February 4, 1946), also known by her married name Sharon Rittenhouse, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in three events. She represented the United States as an 18-year-old at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Finneran received a silver medal for her second-place finish in the women’s 400-meter individual medley – completing an all-American sweep of the event with Donna de Varona and Martha Randall.
In 1981, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Even in retirement, Finneran continued to take part in masters swimming tournaments.
Sharon Finneran came onto the world swimming scene with an incredible force. In 1962, she knocked six seconds off Donna deVarona’s World Record in the 200-meter butterfly, going from a time of :35 to :29. In Tokyo, during the 1964 Olympics, Sharon swam the first heat in :27, Donna went :25 in the second heat, and Sharon won the finals in :21. The finals had to be postponed for two days due to a typhoon, but despite the delay, Sharon still came in second, just one-tenth of a second behind Donna.
Finneran’s swimming career was marked by many achievements, setting a total of six world records and thirteen American records. Most of these records were in events that were regularly contested in the United States but were not part of the Olympic women’s program, including the 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyle, 200 butterfly, and 800 freestyle, both in yards and meters. Her best years were in the non-Olympic years of 1962 and 1963 when she won seven of her eleven national titles.
Sharon Finneran’s accomplishments continued even after the 1964 Olympics. She had a strong return in 1966 and won four more national titles, setting two additional American records.
Sharon Finneran’s achievements in the swimming world extend beyond her own personal success. Her four siblings were also competitive swimmers, divers, and water polo players. Her brother Mike Finneran placed fifth in springboard diving at the 1972 Summer Olympics, and her daughter Ariel Rittenhouse finished fourth at the 2008 Summer Olympics, also in springboard diving.
In recognition of her exceptional talent and contributions to the sport of swimming, Sharon Finneran was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1981. She has left a lasting legacy in the world of swimming and serves as an inspiration to future generations of athletes.
Awards:
– Silver Medal – 1964 Summer Olympics – Women’s 400-meter Individual Medley
– Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame – 1981