Whitney Hedgepeth, born and raised in Colonial Heights, VA, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Texas. She is a 27-time All-American and 3-time NCAA Champion. Hedgepeth is a seven time USA Swimming National Champion in seven different events. She held the American record in the 200 yard backstroke for 11 years and earned two Golds, a Silver, and a Bronze at the 1993 World University Games where she was also the team captain. A 1988 and 1996 Olympian, Whitney is one of America’s most versatile swimmers. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team where she competed in the 200 individual medleys. After retiring in 1994, Hedgepeth took a one year unpaid leave of absence from her work as a sixth grade English teacher to pursue her goal of winning an Olympic medal after retirement. In the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, she received a Gold medal in the 4 X 100 meter medley. She also took home a Silver medal in both the 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke. Hedgepeth went on to be a swimming coach, and later became the Master’s coach with the Longhorn Aquatics.
