Mindy Gehrs
Encyclopedia
Melinda Anne "Mindy" Gehrs is a former All-American swimmer who was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
in January 2009.
, Gehrs is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Carl and Judi Gehrs. She began swimming at age seven and was a member of two junior national teams and two national teams. She was also a four-time Tennessee state champion and swam for both Oak Ridge High School
and the Atomic City Aquatic Club (so named because Gehrs' hometown of Oak Ridge was a base for the Manhattan Project
, the operation that developed the atomic bomb
). In 1998, Gehrs was inducted into the Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame. At the time of her selection, The Oak Ridger called Gehrs "the best swimmer to ever part the waters of the Atomic City."
In January 2009, she was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
.
in Birmingham, Alabama
. She also competed in triathlons and won the 1995 FS Fitness Systems Knoxville Lock Triathlon. In December 2002, Gehrs married Heath William Beaver at the Trinity United Methodist Church of Hartford, Indiana. As of 2009, Gehrs is a practicing physician in Longmont, Colorado
, specializing in the field of rehabilitation medicine. She treats patients with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and spine problems and is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in January 2009.
Youth in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
A native of Oak Ridge, TennesseeOak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
, Gehrs is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Carl and Judi Gehrs. She began swimming at age seven and was a member of two junior national teams and two national teams. She was also a four-time Tennessee state champion and swam for both Oak Ridge High School
Oak Ridge High School (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)
Oak Ridge High School is the public high school for Oak Ridge, Tennessee, enrolling grades 9 through 12. It was established in 1943 to educate the children of Manhattan Project workers. It currently has about 1500 students.-Founding and first location:...
and the Atomic City Aquatic Club (so named because Gehrs' hometown of Oak Ridge was a base for the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, the operation that developed the atomic bomb
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
). In 1998, Gehrs was inducted into the Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame. At the time of her selection, The Oak Ridger called Gehrs "the best swimmer to ever part the waters of the Atomic City."
University of Michigan
Competing for Michigan from 1990–1993, she received 11 All-American honors in five events and won 13 Big Ten championships and the 1993 NCAA championship in the 400-meter individual medley. In 1992, Gehrs was named the Big Ten Women's Swimmer of the Year and received the Big Ten High Point Swimmer award after scoring a perfect 60 points with first-place finishes in: (a) the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:00.85, (b) the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:14.39, and (c) the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 1:59.52. All three of her times were University of Michigan school records, and her time in the 200-meter individual medley was also a Big Ten Conference record. At the end of the 1992 swim season, Gehrs told a Tennessee newspaper, "I just had a fantastic year. I was excited about the whole team. I got three individual bests - finally - and our relays were really good too." In 1993, she was named the NCAA Woman of the Year. Gehrs also received honors for her academic accomplishments, including three Academic All-Big Ten awards and the 1993 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor for combined excellence in academics and athletics.In January 2009, she was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
.
Medical career and triathlete
In 1998, Gehrs received her medical degree from the University of Alabama School of MedicineUniversity of Alabama School of Medicine
The University of Alabama School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public medical school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The UAB School of Medicine has branch campuses in Huntsville and at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences in Tuscaloosa...
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. She also competed in triathlons and won the 1995 FS Fitness Systems Knoxville Lock Triathlon. In December 2002, Gehrs married Heath William Beaver at the Trinity United Methodist Church of Hartford, Indiana. As of 2009, Gehrs is a practicing physician in Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado
Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located in Northern Colorado. Longmont is the 13th most populous city in the State of Colorado. The word "Longmont" comes from Longs Peak, a prominent mountain named for explorer Stephen H....
, specializing in the field of rehabilitation medicine. She treats patients with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and spine problems and is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.