Kathleen Baker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Baker

Baker in 2024
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Thleen, ThleenBean, Little Bean
Born	(1997-02-28) February 28, 1997 (age 28) Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in
Weight	149 lb
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke, Freestyle
Club	SwimMAC Carolina
College team	University of California, Berkeley
Medal record Women's swimming Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4×100 m medley Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100 m backstroke World Championships (LC) Gold 2017 Budapest 4×100 m medley Silver 2017 Budapest 100 m backstroke Bronze 2017 Budapest 200 m backstroke World Championships (SC) Gold 2018 Hangzhou 4×50 m medley Gold 2018 Hangzhou 4×100 m medley Silver 2018 Hangzhou 200 m backstroke Bronze 2018 Hangzhou 200 m medley Pan Pacific Championships Gold 2018 Tokyo 200 m backstroke Silver 2018 Tokyo 4×100 m medley Bronze 2018 Tokyo 100 m backstroke Bronze 2018 Tokyo 4×100 m mixed medley

Kathleen Baker (born February 28, 1997) is an American swimmer. She is known for her skills in freestyle and backstroke events. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she earned a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay. She also won a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke. Kathleen once held the world record for the 100-meter backstroke. She set this record on July 28, 2018, with a time of 58.00 seconds. She was also part of a team that held the world record for the 4x100-meter medley relay. Her teammates were Lilly King, Dana Vollmer, and Simone Manuel.

Early Life and Training

Kathleen Baker grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She went to Forsyth Country Day School for a while. Later, she was homeschooled. This allowed her to travel easily between Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina. She trained with SwimMAC Carolina, a well-known swimming club.

• Kathleen's mother was also a swimmer. She swam for the College of Charleston.
• Her older sister, Rachel, also swims for Washington and Lee University.

In 2010, Kathleen was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. This is a health condition that she has learned to manage while competing.

Kathleen's Swimming Career

Kathleen Baker competing in 2017

College Swimming Journey

Kathleen attended the University of California, Berkeley. She was a key member of the California Golden Bears swimming and diving team. She swam for them for three years, from 2015 to 2018.

Early Competitions (2014–2015)

In 2014, Kathleen competed at the Phillips 66 Nationals. This event helped swimmers qualify for the 2014 Pan Pacifics. She finished second in the 200-meter backstroke, earning a spot on the team. At the Pan Pacifics, she placed ninth in the 200-meter backstroke.

Kathleen was also chosen for the 2015 World Championships. She swam in the 100-meter backstroke and finished eighth in the final. She also participated in the preliminary heats for the 4x100-meter medley relay.

Olympic Success at Rio 2016

At the 2016 Olympic Trials, Kathleen qualified for her first Olympic Games. She finished second in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 59.29 seconds.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, she won a silver medal. This was in the 100-meter backstroke event. Her time was 58.75 seconds. Many people were surprised by her medal, as she had not broken 59 seconds before the Olympics. Kathleen also earned a gold medal as part of the 4x100-meter medley relay team. She swam with Lilly King, Dana Vollmer, and Simone Manuel.

World Championships in 2017

At the 2017 World Championships, Kathleen won three medals.

• She took home a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke.
• She earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke.
• She won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

Even though she did not win a medal in the 50-meter backstroke, Kathleen set a new American record in the semifinals. Her time was 27.48 seconds. The 4x100-meter medley relay team, which included Kathleen, Lilly King, Kelsi Worrell, and Simone Manuel, set a new world record with a time of 3:51.55. They broke the previous record set in 2012.

Personal Life

In July 2021, Kathleen Baker announced her engagement. She got engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Sean Dowling. Sean is a member of the United States Marine Corps.

See also

In Spanish: Kathleen Baker para niños