Kathleen Baker, born on February 28, 1997, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is an accomplished American swimmer renowned for her prowess in backstroke and freestyle events.
Rising to prominence in the world of competitive swimming, Baker captured international attention during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she secured both gold and silver medals at just 19 years old.
Her journey in the pool began early, sparked by her mother’s insistence that she learn to swim before using the diving board, leading her to join a summer program around age seven.
Despite facing significant health challenges, including a Crohn’s disease diagnosis at age 13, Baker’s determination propelled her to the upper echelons of the sport.
She trained rigorously with SwimMAC Carolina in Charlotte, balancing homeschooling after her time at Forsyth Country Day School to accommodate her demanding schedule.
Siblings
Kathleen shares a profound and supportive bond with her older sister, Rachel Baker, born in 1994.
The sisters’ connection has been a cornerstone of Kathleen’s life, with Rachel playing a pivotal role in introducing her to swimming.
Rachel started the sport first, and Kathleen naturally followed suit, turning a family activity into a pathway for Olympic glory.
Career
Baker burst onto the scene at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, where, though not yet qualifying for the team, she posted impressive times in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke.
Her breakthrough came in 2015 at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, where she placed eighth in the 100-meter backstroke and contributed to the prelims of the 4×100-meter medley relay.
Also Read: Ryan Murphy Siblings: Get to Know Shannon and Patrick
The pinnacle arrived at the 2016 Rio Olympics: Baker earned silver in the individual 100-meter backstroke with a time of 58.75 seconds—her first sub-59-second swim—and anchored the gold-medal-winning U.S. 4×100-meter medley relay alongside teammates Lilly King, Dana Vollmer, and Simone Manuel.
Building on this momentum, she dominated collegiate swimming at the University of California, Berkeley, where she honed her skills from 2014 to 2018, winning multiple NCAA titles in backstroke disciplines.
Internationally, Baker excelled at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, claiming silver in the 100-meter backstroke, bronze in the 200-meter backstroke, and gold in the medley relay, while shattering Natalie Coughlin’s American record in the 50-meter backstroke semifinals with 27.48 seconds.
She carried this form into the 2019 Worlds in Gwangju, securing additional medals, but faced setbacks leading to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including a broken foot weeks before trials; though she qualified, a subsequent injury forced her withdrawal from the Games.
Post-Tokyo, Baker retired in 2021, reflecting on a career enriched by the sport’s intrinsic joys over mere accolades, and transitioned into advocacy and speaking engagements while residing in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
Accolades
At the Olympic level, Baker amassed two medals from Rio 2016: gold in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay and silver in the 100-meter backstroke, marking her as a two-time Olympian despite her Tokyo withdrawal.
Her World Championships haul is equally formidable, totaling eight medals across 2017 and 2019 editions—three golds (all in the 4×100-meter medley relay), three silvers (two in 100-meter backstroke, one in 200-meter freestyle relay), and two bronzes (200-meter backstroke and 4×200-meter freestyle relay).
In the collegiate realm, Baker reigned supreme at the NCAA Championships, capturing four individual titles: the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke in both 2017 and 2018, while contributing to numerous relay victories for Cal.
She was crowned the 2017 College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Swimmer of the Year and, in 2021, inducted into the CSCAA’s Top 100 Greatest College Swimmers and Divers list.
Beyond hardware, Baker’s record-breaking feats include the American mark in the 50-meter backstroke, set at the 2017 Worlds, cementing her technical mastery.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
