2000 - Sydney, Australia

Kathleen Morrissey    800 Freestyle Kathleen joined the Badger Swim Club in November 1997 at age twelve, and in a short time earned Junior National ranking in the 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 1000 freestyle. Emerging as a classic power mid-distance swimmer for Badger, Kathleen has scored many points for her team at various meets, both at the Senior Metropolitan Championships and at national level meets across the country. In her two and a half year tenure with Badger, she has continued to build on a distinguished record of incremental achievement as one of the more promising young swimmers on the national scene. At age fourteen, Kathleen won her first national level title at the Spring 2000 Junior Nationals in the 1000 freestyle, posting an Olympic Trial qualifying time. Her negative-splitting performance was "amazing," according to John Collins. Kathleen has also made a major contribution to her team, in the words of her coach, as a "money relay swimmer." Kathleen frequently swims the backstroke leg of the medley relay and with developing hidden talents as a sprinter, may be seen anchoring the freestyle relays. At practice, Kathleen demonstrates an unflappable work ethic and usually may be found in a lane with one or more of the senior boys, her favorite training partners. Kathleen's personal attributes, her strawberry blond hair, green eyes and mild-mannered demeanor, have endeared her to her teammates. Kathleen is very proud of her most devoted fans, her two brothers and two sisters, who will be in attendance at the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. Return to the 2000 Olympics Page