Elizabeth Botsford

Background

Botsford grew up in Timonium, Maryland.

Education

University of Arizona.

Career

She started her swimming journey at the age of 9 for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the next 5 years, Beth held every national age group record in the backstroke events for the ages 9–10 year olds, 11-12 year olds, and 13-14 year olds. In 1996 at the age of 14, and already with 2 National Championships under her belt, Beth placed first in the 200m backstroke at the United States Olympic Trials and second in the 100m backstroke, earning her a spot as one of the youngest members on the United States Olympic Team.

That summer in Atlanta, Georgia, Beth swam to a gold medal finish in the 100m Backstroke at the XXVI Olympic Games and swam the backstroke leg of the gold medal winning 4x100m Medley Relay.

Beth is currently an Assistant Coach for the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Beth is the owner of the Golden Guppies Swim School in Madison, Wisconsin.

Beth also coaches the Waunakee Wave Swim Team. The age-group side of the team includes up-and-comer Gabriella Pierobon-Mays.

Achievements

• Throughout the next ten years, Beth won a total 6 National Championships, broke the American and United States Open records in the 200m Backstroke, was an National Collegiate Athletic Association Champion and 16 time All-American for the University of Arizona, was voted the Public Affairs Committee-10 Newcomer of the Year, received the Ruby Award for “Outstanding Female Student Athlete” at the University of Arizona, has served as the Honorary Head Coach for the Special Olympics of Maryland, and has been inducted into the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame and the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.

Membership

She did so in the individual 100-meter backstroke, and as a member of the women"s relay team in 4×100-meter medley. She has traveled all around the world including Paris, Japan, of Korea, Paris, Barbados, Mexico, Canada, and Australia representing the United States as gold, silver and bronze medals earning member of the Pan American Games Team, Pan Pacific Games Team, World Championships Team and the World University Games Team (which she was also voted Team Captain for the United States of America).