Sharon Marie STOUDER

Fifteen-year-old Sharon Stouder from Glendora High School in California was the surprise swimmer of the 1964 Olympics. She was the unexpected winner of the 100m butterfly, defeating the highly favored Ada Kok, and depriving the Dutch girl of her world record in the bargain. In the 100m freestyle she nearly caused even a greater upset, finishing only 0.4 seconds down to the great Dawn Fraser. In taking the silver medal she became the second woman to break the one-minute barrier. She won two more gold medals in the relays, picking up world record shares in both events. Her other successes included a gold medal in the medley relay at the 1963 Pan-American Games and, at the 1964 AAU outdoor championships, she won the 100m freestyle and both butterfly events, bettering her own world record in the 200 fly.

Stouder would later graduate from Stanford and became a member of the Stanford (1997) and International Swim (1972) Halls of Fame. In 1984 she was honored by Stanford by lighting the Olympic Torch at the Stanford Stadium for the soccer events that were held there.