Career
Atwood represented the United States as a 15-year-old at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. She competed in the preliminary heats of the women"s 200-meter backstroke, recording a time of 2:35.2, but did not advance. Before the 1972 Olympics, she held the world record in the 200-meter backstroke (2:215), though her record would be broken in Munich.
She also swam the backstroke leg for the winning United States. team in the preliminary heats of the women"s 4×100-meter medley relay.
She became the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes women"s swimming and diving team in 1977. Atwood was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1992.
