Mary Freeman (swimmer)
As U. of Pennsylvania Coach circa 1960 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mary Gray Freeman |
| National team | United States |
| Born | October 30, 1933 Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Backstroke, Individual Medley |
| Club | Walter Reed Swim Club |
| Coach | Jim Campbell |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | George Washington University |
| Playing career | |
| 1948-1953 | Walter Reed Swimming Club |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1955-1968 | Vesper Boat Club Women's Swim Team Philadelphia |
| 1960 | U. of Pennsylvania Women's Swim Team |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1961 National Championship (Vespar Boat Club) '61 '66 AAU Nat. Outdoor Team Champs 56-58 Eastern U.S. & Middle Atlantic Champs (Vesper Boat Club) | |
| Awards | |
| International Swimming Hall of Fame | |
Mary Gray Freeman (born October 30, 1933), also known by her former married name Mary Kelly, as Mary Freeman Kelly and by her subsequent married name Mary Spitzer, is an American former competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland in the 100-meter backstroke. After leaving competitive swimming in 1953, she became a Hall of Fame swim coach for Philadelphia's Vesper Boat Club from 1955–68 and coached the Women's Team at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. Recognized as one of the most outstanding women coaches of her era, in 1964 she was the first woman to be recommended as an American Olympic coach but declined the nomination, believing a man should take the honor as they were more reliant on earning wages to live.