Linda Lee Gustavson (born November 30, 1949), also known by her married name Linda McGuire, is an American former competition swimmer, three-time Olympic medalist, and surpassed world record-holder in two events. As an 18-year-old, she was on the United States Olympic team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, a medalist in the three events she competed in.[1]

Linda Gustavson
Personal information
Full nameLinda Lee Gustavson
National teamUnited States
Born (1949-11-30) November 30, 1949 (age 75)
Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight134 lb (61 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubSanta Clara Swim Club
College teamMichigan State University
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City 400 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City 100 m freestyle
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg 4x100 m freestyle
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 400 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 4x100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1967 Tokyo 4x100 m medley

Career

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Gustavson was a product of the powerhouse training program at the Santa Clara Swim Club, led by coach George Haines.[2] The club trained U.S. Olympic level swimmers during the 1960s and 1970s, including eight men and eight women of the 1968 U.S. Olympic swimming team.[2]

She received a gold medal as a member of the first-place U.S. team in the women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay (4:02.5).[1] Together with her teammates Jane Barkman, Sue Pedersen and Jan Henne, she set a new Olympic record of 4:02.5 in the event final. In individual competition, she also won a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle (4:35.5),[3] and a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle (1:00.3).[4]

Gustavson attended Michigan State University with fellow Olympic swimmer Pam Kruse, and the two friends joined Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.[5] She swam for the Michigan State Spartans swimming and diving team in Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and Big Ten Conference competition, and she and Kruse won the Big Ten championship in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 1971.[6] Gustavson graduated from Michigan State in 1972.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Linda Gustavson Archived 2009-08-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Robert Bao, "Spartan Olympians: Linda (Gustavson) McGuire," MSU Alumni (Summer 2008). Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  3. ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1968 Ciudad de México Summer Games, Women's 400 metres Freestyle Final. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  4. ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1968 Ciudad de México Summer Games, Women's 100 metres Freestyle Final. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  5. ^ Kappa Alpha Theta, Notable Thetas. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  6. ^ Michigan State Spartans, Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming Big Ten Champions. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
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