Nina Harmer

Background

Harmer was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and trained with the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia.

Career

As a 14-year-old, she represented the United States at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. She competed in the women"s 100-meter backstroke, but did not advance beyond the preliminary heats. A year later at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Harmer swam for the gold medal-winning United States. team in the preliminary heats of the women"s 4×100-meter medley relay.

Individually, she also competed in the women"s 100-meter backstroke, finishing fifth in the event final with a time of 1:09.4, behind American teammates Cathy Ferguson (first), and Ginny Duenkel (third).

Achievements

• At the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo Paulo, Brazil, she won the gold medal in the women"s 100-meter backstroke. She did not receive a medal under the 1964 international swimming rules because she did not swim in the relay event final.