Born: 1948 (Inglewood, California)
Died: 2013
Sharon Marie Stouder (November 9, 1948 – June 23, 2013), also known by her married name Sharon Stouder Clark, was an American competition swimmer, three-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in four events. As a 15-year-old, she won three gold medals and one silver at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She won the women’s 100-meter butterfly, and was a member of the winning U.S. teams in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay and the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay. She also took second place in the women’s 100-meter freestyle, finishing behind Australian Dawn Fraser, for a total of four medals.
Stouder was born on November 9, 1948, in Inglewood, California. She began swimming at the age of three and showed exceptional talent from a young age. By the time she was eight, Stouder was already winning races and setting age-group records. At the age of twelve, she had already won 20 first-place finishes in national age-group events and had established herself as one of the top young swimmers in the country.
In 1963, at the age of fourteen, Stouder won a gold medal at the Pan American Games, solidifying her status as a rising star in the swimming world. But it was the following year, at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she would leave her mark on the sport.
At the age of fifteen, Stouder’s performance in the 1964 Olympics was nothing short of extraordinary. She won a total of three gold medals, in the women’s 100-meter butterfly, the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay, and the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay. In addition, she won a silver medal in the women’s 100-meter freestyle, finishing just behind the legendary Dawn Fraser of Australia. Stouder’s medal tally equaled the accomplishments of Chris von Saltza at the 1960 Olympics, making her one of the most successful female swimmers of her time.
Stouder’s performance in the 100-meter butterfly was particularly noteworthy. Her Olympic record in the event stood for eight years until 1972. However, her silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle may have been her finest swim. She became only the second woman in history to break the one-minute barrier in the event and pushed Dawn Fraser to a new Olympic record. Stouder’s excellence in both sprint butterfly and freestyle earned her a place alongside Fraser as one of the premier women sprinters recognized in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Throughout her career, Stouder broke multiple world records in the butterfly events, including twice breaking the world record in the women’s 200-meter butterfly in 1964. Her remarkable achievements earned her induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1972.
After retiring from competitive swimming, Stouder remained involved in the sport as a swimming coach and instructor, passing on her knowledge and passion to the next generation of athletes. She continued to be a source of inspiration for young swimmers who aspired to follow in her footsteps.
Tragically, Sharon Stouder passed away on June 23, 2013, at the age of 64. Her legacy, however, lives on in the annals of swimming history. Her brilliant all-round Olympic swimming exhibitions in 1964 and her enduring records have cemented her status as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time.
Biography Length: 3,617 characters (including spaces)
Awards:
– 1964 Summer Olympics: Gold in the women’s 100-meter butterfly
– 1964 Summer Olympics: Gold in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay
– 1964 Summer Olympics: Gold in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay
– 1964 Summer Olympics: Silver in the women’s 100-meter freestyle
– 1963 Pan American Games: Gold in an unspecified event
– U.S. National Championships: 7
– Girl Age-Group Swimmer of the Year (1961)
– World Woman Swimmer of the Year (1964) – recognized by Sports Illustrated, ABC T.V., and Swimming World