I love the summer Olympics- in fact I’m already getting psyched up for this year’s in London. In this critic’s humble opinion England offers a solid venue for the games and more than that there’s something intrinsically great about the ancient games. So, in honor of the upcoming event I thought I’d take a look at a local Olympic athlete, swimmer, Caroline Burckle.
A Louisville native, Burckle was a standout at her alma mater University of Florida. Her initial season with the Gators earned her a spot in the swimming world championships in Montreal in 2005, in fact she was a major part of the US’ gold medal team at the meet.
Returning to Gainesville as a conquering hero Burckle swam her 2006 season as a prolific athlete for the team. The following year she proved her talent once again on a global scale by winning a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Of course, the following year pressure mounted with the ensuing 2008 Olympics, when Burckle made the U.S. team in the try-outs in Omaha.
At the historic event Burckle came home with a bronze medal won in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
Never one to stand on her laurels though, Burckle, the following year became a member of the 2009-2010 national team the following year.
Burckle’s family are local athletic stand-outs as well, her parents own three sport and fitness clubs in the area, and her father swam for the University of Louisville where as her mother played Tennis for the University of Santa Barbra and the University of Indiana. In addition her brother, Clark, is a swimmer who qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials.
Today, Burckle’s record in the 800y Free-Relay still stands as top of the mark in both the SEC and NCAA as a whole.
Image courtesy of Team USA
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