Kate Ziegler
Encyclopedia
Kate Marie Ziegler is an American long-distance
swimmer
. She currently holds the world record in the 1500-meter freestyle (long course).
She has won a total of fifteen medals in major international competition, eight golds, five silvers, and two bronze spanning the World and the Pan Pacific
Championships.
in 1988, the daughter of Don and Cathy Ziegler. Ziegler graduated from Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
on June 1, 2006. Ziegler attended George Mason University
and transferred to Chapman University
in 2011.
' USA Record in the 500y free (4:35.35).
in the 800 m freestyle with a time of 8:20.55. Her 400 m split would have placed 4th in the event at the meet.
In February 2005, at the FINA World Cup
stop in New York, Ziegler won the 800 m free in 8:16.32, breaking Sippy Woodhead's 25-year-old American Record, which at the time was the oldest American record on the books.
In 2005, Ziegler won the 800 m (8:25.31) and 1500 m (16:00.41) at the World Championships
in Montreal. The latter time made her the third-fastest woman (and second American) in the history of the event, following only world-record holder Janet Evans
's 15:52.10 and German Hannah Stockbauer
's 16:00.18. She qualified for Worlds after winning the 800 m at World Trials in Indianapolis with a time of 8:34.83. She failed to qualify in the 400 m, finishing 3rd in a time of 4:12.09.
, she swam the 1500 in 15:55.01 making her the second fastest swimmer of all time in that event and the second person to break the sixteen minute mark. The third person was Hayley Peirsol
who finished the event just 2 seconds later.
At the 2007 World Championships
, she won the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyles, to defend the titles she had won in 2005
.
In 2008, Ziegler qualified for the Olympic Games by placing second to Katie Hoff
in both the 400 m (4:03) and 800 m (8:23) freestyles. In Beijing
, however, Ziegler failed to qualify for the finals in either event. (Notably, her best time in the 800 would have netted her a silver medal.)
Long-distance swimming
The distances that distinguish long distance swimming from ordinary swimming are those distances that are longer than are typically swum in pool competitions. When a given swim calls more on endurance than outright speed, the more likely it is to be considered a long distance swim...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
. She currently holds the world record in the 1500-meter freestyle (long course).
She has won a total of fifteen medals in major international competition, eight golds, five silvers, and two bronze spanning the World and the Pan Pacific
Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
The Pan Pacific Swimming Championships is a long course swimming event first held in 1985. The meet was initially staged biennially , to allow for an international championship-level meet in the non-Olympic and non-World Championships years...
Championships.
Personal
Ziegler was born in Great Falls, VirginiaGreat Falls, Virginia
Great Falls is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 15,427 at the 2010 census.Although primarily a bedroom community for Washington, D.C., one major attraction is Great Falls Park which overlooks the Great Falls of the Potomac River, for which...
in 1988, the daughter of Don and Cathy Ziegler. Ziegler graduated from Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School was founded in 1957 in Arlington County, Virginia. It was operated by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, but has been under the direction of the Diocese of Arlington since 1974. The school is named for Bishop Denis J...
on June 1, 2006. Ziegler attended George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
and transferred to Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
in 2011.
High school career
At Bishop O'Connell H.S., Ziegler excelled throughout her 4 years, earning 4-time Washington Post All-Met honors, including being Swimmer of the Year on more than one occasion. As a freshman, she finished 3rd in the 200y freestyle (1:51.59) and won the 500 yd freestyle (4:47.78) at the 2003 Metros Swimming and Diving Championships, breaking the then-15-year-old record in the 500 held by Pam Minthorn. She also anchored O'Connell's 200y freestyle (24.51 split) and 400 yd freestyle (53.65 split) to 7th and 6th place finishes, respectively. The following year, as a sophomore, she won both the 200y freestyle (1:46.15) and the 500y freestyle (4:41.91) in record time, and anchored the winning 200y freestyle (24.14 split) and 3rd place 400 yd freestyle (51.63 split) relays. Her times continued to drop rapidly, and as a junior she again won both the 200y freestyle (1:45.43) and 500y freestyle (4:37.67) in record time, the latter being an Independent National High School record. As a senior, she continued to excel, tying the National High School record in the 200y free (1:45.49) and breaking Janet EvansJanet Evans
Janet Beth Evans is a American competitive swimmer who specializes in distance freestyle. She recently announced her comeback to the sport with intentions to swim in the 2012 Olympic Trials.-Biography:...
' USA Record in the 500y free (4:35.35).
2004-2005
At the 2004 Short Course Worlds, she finished second to Japan's Sachiko YamadaSachiko Yamada (swimmer)
is an Olympic and former World-Record-holding freestyle swimmer from Japan. She swam for Japan at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.-Major achievements:* 2000 Olympics - 800m freestyle 8th * 2004 Olympics - 400m freestyle 6th -Personal bests:...
in the 800 m freestyle with a time of 8:20.55. Her 400 m split would have placed 4th in the event at the meet.
In February 2005, at the FINA World Cup
2004-2005 FINA Swimming World Cup
The 2004-2005 FINA Swimming World Cup was a series of eight short-course meets, held in 8 different cities from November 2004 through February 2005....
stop in New York, Ziegler won the 800 m free in 8:16.32, breaking Sippy Woodhead's 25-year-old American Record, which at the time was the oldest American record on the books.
In 2005, Ziegler won the 800 m (8:25.31) and 1500 m (16:00.41) at the World Championships
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
in Montreal. The latter time made her the third-fastest woman (and second American) in the history of the event, following only world-record holder Janet Evans
Janet Evans
Janet Beth Evans is a American competitive swimmer who specializes in distance freestyle. She recently announced her comeback to the sport with intentions to swim in the 2012 Olympic Trials.-Biography:...
's 15:52.10 and German Hannah Stockbauer
Hannah Stockbauer
Hannah Stockbauer is a German female athlete. She is active in swimming, and a five time world champion. In 2003 World Championships she won a gold medal at the 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m freestyle events...
's 16:00.18. She qualified for Worlds after winning the 800 m at World Trials in Indianapolis with a time of 8:34.83. She failed to qualify in the 400 m, finishing 3rd in a time of 4:12.09.
2006-2008
At the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
The tenth edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course event, was held in 2006 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from August 17–20. Six world records were tallied compared to one from the 2002 edition. This edition was slower than it would have been because of the...
, she swam the 1500 in 15:55.01 making her the second fastest swimmer of all time in that event and the second person to break the sixteen minute mark. The third person was Hayley Peirsol
Hayley Peirsol
Hayley Reide Peirsol is an American long-distance swimmer. She swam under Brent Lorenzen with Irvine Novaquatics prior to attending Auburn University. She has also trained with Club Wolverine at the University of Michigan under Bob Bowman. Hayley was the third woman in history to ever break 16...
who finished the event just 2 seconds later.
At the 2007 World Championships
Swimming at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
The swimming competition at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships was held in Melbourne, Australia, from 25 March to 1 April.Morning/heats sessions began at 10:00 a.m., with the evening sessions beginning at 7:00 p.m. All events were contested in a long-course pool...
, she won the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyles, to defend the titles she had won in 2005
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
.
In 2008, Ziegler qualified for the Olympic Games by placing second to Katie Hoff
Katie Hoff
Kathryn "Katie" Elise Hoff is an American swimmer. Hoff is strongest in the 200 and 400 meter individual medley, though she is a very capable swimmer in many events, ranging from the four 200 meter events to the 800 meter freestyle...
in both the 400 m (4:03) and 800 m (8:23) freestyles. In Beijing
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held over a thirteen day period from August 9 to August 21, with the conventional events ending on August 17 and the new marathon 10 km events being held on August 20 and 21...
, however, Ziegler failed to qualify for the finals in either event. (Notably, her best time in the 800 would have netted her a silver medal.)
External links
- USA Swimming athlete bio: Kate Ziegler
- George Mason University profile for Kate Ziegler