Shirley Babashoff
Encyclopedia
Shirley Frances Babashoff (born January 31, 1957 in Whittier, California
) is a former swimmer from the United States
, who set six world records and earned a total of eight individual Olympic medals in her career. She also won a gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle relay in both the 1972 (after her freshman year in high school) and 1976 Olympics, and she won the 1975 World Championship in both the 200 and 400 meter freestyle. Her photo also appeared once on the cover of Sports Illustrated
magazine.
in Montreal, she won three silver medals and a gold medal in the 4x100 m freestyle relay, despite the competition being dominated by the East German swimmers. Although Babashoff never won an individual gold medal in Olympic competition, she is still regarded as one of the top swimmers in history, and is most vividly remembered for having swum the anchor leg on the gold-medal winning women's 4x100 m freestyle relay team, in its victory over the mighty 1976 East German women, in what is widely acknowledged as having been the single greatest race in the entire history of women's swimming. Prior to the relay, American sportscaster Donna de Varona
picked Kornelia Ender
and her East German teammates to win the event, but Jill Sterkel
, Kim Peyton
, and Wendy Boglioli
teamed with Babashoff to pull off a great upset and set a world record in the process. After the event, de Varona said, "I was never happier to eat my words." Shirley Babashoff's time in winning the silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle at the 1976 Olympics would have defeated men's gold medalist Don Schollander
twelve years earlier at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
.
Babashoff was occasionally referred to as "Surly Shirley" and described as a "sore loser" by the media because of her public accusations of drug cheating by the East German swimmers. It was later proven that many East German athletes were using performance-enhancing drugs.
After her Olympic career ended, Babashoff coached swimming, had a son in 1986, whom she raised alone, and became a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service
in Orange County, California
.
On April 30, 2005, Shirley Babashoff received the Olympic Order
, the highest award of the Olympic Movement, during the Inaugural Olympic Assembly luncheon. International Olympic Committee
members Bob Ctvrtlik
, Anita DeFrantz
, and Jim Easton
presented the award. The IOC established the Olympic Order in 1974 to honor individuals who have illustrated the Olympic Ideals through their actions, have achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or have rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause, either through their own personal achievements or their contributions to the development of sport.
Her brother, Jack Babashoff
, was the silver medal winner in the 100 meter freestyle swim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her sister, Debbie Babashoff, is also a swimmer. Shirley attended Fountain Valley High School
in Fountain Valley, California
, where one of her classmates was actress Michelle Pfeiffer
. In 1973 she led the school to their first ever CIF Championship in Girls Swimming.
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
) is a former swimmer from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who set six world records and earned a total of eight individual Olympic medals in her career. She also won a gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle relay in both the 1972 (after her freshman year in high school) and 1976 Olympics, and she won the 1975 World Championship in both the 200 and 400 meter freestyle. Her photo also appeared once on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine.
1976 Summer Olympics
At the 1976 Summer OlympicsSwimming at the 1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montréal, Canada, 26 events in swimming were contested. There was a total of 471 participants from 51 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:...
in Montreal, she won three silver medals and a gold medal in the 4x100 m freestyle relay, despite the competition being dominated by the East German swimmers. Although Babashoff never won an individual gold medal in Olympic competition, she is still regarded as one of the top swimmers in history, and is most vividly remembered for having swum the anchor leg on the gold-medal winning women's 4x100 m freestyle relay team, in its victory over the mighty 1976 East German women, in what is widely acknowledged as having been the single greatest race in the entire history of women's swimming. Prior to the relay, American sportscaster Donna de Varona
Donna de Varona
Donna Elizabeth de Varona is a former American swimmer of Mexican and Irish descent.-Swimming career:...
picked Kornelia Ender
Kornelia Ender
Kornelia Ender is a former East German swimmer who at the 1976 Summer Olympics became the first woman swimmer to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games, all in world record times...
and her East German teammates to win the event, but Jill Sterkel
Jill Sterkel
Gillian "Jill" Sterkel is a former competitive freestyle swimmer for the United States of America. At the Olympic Games she won four medals in three Games spanning 12 years. She attended Glen A...
, Kim Peyton
Kim Peyton
Kim Marie Peyton McDonald was a competitive freestyle swimmer from Portland, Oregon in the 1970s and a Gold medalist for the United States at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics...
, and Wendy Boglioli
Wendy Boglioli
Wendy Lansbach Boglioli is a former Olympic swimmer and swimming coach from the United States, who later became a motivational speaker...
teamed with Babashoff to pull off a great upset and set a world record in the process. After the event, de Varona said, "I was never happier to eat my words." Shirley Babashoff's time in winning the silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle at the 1976 Olympics would have defeated men's gold medalist Don Schollander
Don Schollander
Donald Arthur Schollander is a former Olympic swimmer for the United States. He won total of five gold medals and one silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics...
twelve years earlier at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
Personal
In 1982, she was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of FameInternational Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
.
Babashoff was occasionally referred to as "Surly Shirley" and described as a "sore loser" by the media because of her public accusations of drug cheating by the East German swimmers. It was later proven that many East German athletes were using performance-enhancing drugs.
After her Olympic career ended, Babashoff coached swimming, had a son in 1986, whom she raised alone, and became a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.
On April 30, 2005, Shirley Babashoff received the Olympic Order
Olympic Order
The Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement, created by the International Olympic Committee in May 1975 as a successor to the Olympic Certificate previously awarded. The Olympic Order originally had three grades , although the bronze grade was retired in 1984...
, the highest award of the Olympic Movement, during the Inaugural Olympic Assembly luncheon. International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
members Bob Ctvrtlik
Bob Ctvrtlik
Robert Jan Ctvrtlik born July 8, 1963 in Long Beach, California) is an American volleyball player, Olympic gold medalist, businessman and former member of the International Olympic Committee. Ctvrtlik is a 1985 graduate of Pepperdine University....
, Anita DeFrantz
Anita DeFrantz
Anita DeFrantz is an American Olympic Athlete and member of the International Olympic Committee.She was captain of the American rowing team at the 1976 Summer Olympics.-External links:*]...
, and Jim Easton
Jim Easton
Jim Easton is a Scottish former professional association footballer and manager. He played for Hibernian and Dundee and was player/manager of Queen of the South.-Hibernian:...
presented the award. The IOC established the Olympic Order in 1974 to honor individuals who have illustrated the Olympic Ideals through their actions, have achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or have rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause, either through their own personal achievements or their contributions to the development of sport.
Her brother, Jack Babashoff
Jack Babashoff
Jack Babashoff is a retired American swimmer who won a silver medal for the United States at the 1976 Summer Olympics in men's 100 m freestyle. His sister is noted swimmer Shirley Babashoff. Jack attended Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, California.-References:* , from...
, was the silver medal winner in the 100 meter freestyle swim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Her sister, Debbie Babashoff, is also a swimmer. Shirley attended Fountain Valley High School
Fountain Valley High School
Fountain Valley High School is a public high school located in Fountain Valley, California. It was established in 1966 and is a part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District...
in Fountain Valley, California
Fountain Valley, California
Fountain Valley is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 55,313 at the 2010 census. A classic bedroom community, Fountain Valley is a middle-class residential area.- History :...
, where one of her classmates was actress Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer is an American actress. She made her film debut in 1980 in The Hollywood Knights, but first garnered mainstream attention with her performance in Brian De Palma's Scarface . Pfeiffer has won numerous awards for her work...
. In 1973 she led the school to their first ever CIF Championship in Girls Swimming.