Kara Lynn Joyce

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Kara Lynn Joyce


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fullname = Kara Lynn Joyce
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nationality = USA
strokes = Freestyle
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birthdate = birth date and age|1985|10|25
birthplace =Brooklyn, New York, United States
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height = height|m=1.83
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Kara Lynn Joyce (born October 25, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American swimmer and two-time Olympian. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, she earned a pair of silver medals as a member of the 4×100 m freestyle and the 4×100 m medley relays. In her individual events, Kara Lynn finished fifth in both the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle races. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Kara Lynn matched her previous Olympic performance by winning silver medals as part of the 4×100 m freestyle and the 4×100 m medley relays.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kara Lynn split her high school years between Webster, New York and Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the family relocated to in 2001. It was in Ann Arbor that Kara Lynn began training with Club Wolverine under Jon Urbanchek. Kara Lynn also chose to compete for her high school team, the Ann Arbor Pioneers. In her senior year of high school, she set five Michigan High School State records, four of which were National High School records at the time. (Her state records are in the 50 m, 100 m and 200 m freestyle as well as the 200 m and 400 m freestyle relays. While only able to swim a total of 4 events, Kara Lynn set the 50 m freestyle record by leading-off the 200 m freestyle relay.)

After a successful prep career in which she broke a total of 5 National High School records, she headed south to swim for Jack Bauerle at the University of Georgia (UGA). During her freshman campaign, Kara Lynn won 5 NCAA titles including two individual titles (50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle), helping Georgia to its third consecutive runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Joyce along with junior Mary DeScenza led Georgia to its first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship in 4 years by defending her individual titles in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle as well as adding a 4th place in the 200 m freestyle. Joyce was also a key swimmer on four of Georgia's five NCAA Championship relays. En route to their victory, Georgia became the first team in NCAA swimming history to win all five relays.

During the 2006 NCAA Championships, contested at UGA's Gabrielsen Natatorium, Kara Lynn led the Bulldogs to a second place finish with five NCAA titles and Swimmer of the Year honors. On the first day of the meet, Kara Lynn broke the American Record in the 50 m freestyle (scy), previously held by former Bulldog Maritza Correia. Kara Lynn defended her 100 m freestyle title and added to that with a win in the 200 m freestyle. By winning all three, Kara Lynn became the first swimmer in the 25 year history of the Women's NCAA Championship Meet to win the 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m freestyle events.

In the 7th FINA World Championships - 25 m in Indianapolis 2004, Kara Lynn Joyce received a gold medal competing in 4×100 m freestyle relay and a silver medal and the 4×100 m medley relay.

In the 11th FINA World Championships - 50 m in Montreal 2005, Kara Lynn Joyce received a bronze medal competing in 4×100 m freestyle relay.

In the 2006 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships in Irvine California, Kara Lynn won the 50 m freestyle in a time of 24.97. This gold medal earned her a spot on the 2006 USA Pan-Pacific team and the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Aus.

Kara Lynn Joyce holds three American records as part of the US National Team. These include the short course (25 m) 400 m freestyle relay and 400 m medley relay teams and the long course (50 m) 400 m freestyle relay. Kara Lynn also holds the American Record as a member of the University of Georgia in the short course 200 m freestyle relay.

External links

* [http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_21681.htm Kara Lynn Joyce's U.S. Olympic Team bio]
*Videos & Results on [http://www.swimpassion.net/Athletes/karalynnjoyce.html SwimPassion.net]

Videos & Interviews

* [http://swimming.flocasts.org/search/all/kara+lynn+joyce Floswimming Videos and Interviews of Kara Lynn Joyce]

References