Candace COSTIE

Candy Costie formed a dominant duet in synchronized swimming with Tracy Ruiz. They competed together for 10 years and failed to win only two meets – taking silver at the 1980 US Nationals and the 1982 World Championships. They were gold medalists at the 1983 Pan American Games and also won an NCAA title together at the University of Arizona. Together they competed for a few years in professional water shows as a synchronized pair. Costie married US water polo Olympian Doug Burke although they later divorced. She re-married, to Fred Merrill, with whom she started a real estate company, Merrill Companies. She also became involved in art, and started her own studio, the Desert Fish, in Arizona. Costie is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.