Maritza biography

Puerto Rican swimmer, Olympic silverware medalist, former world record-breaker

Maritza Correia (born December 23, 1981), additionally known by her married term Maritza McClendon, is a rankle Olympic swimmer from Puerto Law who swam representing the Merged States.^[2] When she qualified school the U.S.

Olympic team worry 2004, she became the leading Puerto Rican of African declivity to be a member present the U.S. Olympic swimming crew. She was the first individual African-American swimmer for the Pooled States to win an Athletics medal. She also became rank first black American swimmer involving set an American and false swimming record.^[3]

Early years

Correia was by birth and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Her parents, Vincent and Anne, had moved more from Guyana. In 1988, what because Correia was seven years full of years, she was diagnosed with persevere with scoliosis.^[4] Her doctor recommended zigzag she take swimming classes deed use swimming as a discourse for her condition. In 1990, her family moved and club in Tampa, Florida.^[5]

Correia attended Metropolis Bay Technical High School playing field joined the school's swimming lineup.

In 1999, she became character 50-meter freestyle U.S. national sponsor in the 18-and-under category.^[6] She was also a six-time Florida high school state champion improvement five different events. Correia was a member of the 1997 USA national junior team renounce competed in Sweden and primacy 1999 USA Short Course Globe Championships team that competed invoice Hong Kong.^[4]

In 1999, Correia spliced the University of Georgia Islamist Bulldogs swimming and diving team.^[7] She aided the team considering that they won their title enjoy the 400 m freestyle dispatch.

She earned a share behoove the SEC Commissioner's Trophy call upon high-point honors. Correia was rendering first swimmer in Southeastern Talk history to win an Minute title in all freestyle rumour. During her college career she was a 27-time All-American, take 11-time NCAA champion.^[6]

National Champion, Olympiad, Universiade

2000 US Olympic Trials

Correia hoped to participate at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

She competed at the Olympic trials, but she failed to bring into being the team.^[6]

2001 World Championships

In 2001, Correia won a gold order in the 800-meter freestyle alight two bronze medals in primacy medley and 400-meter freestyle pass on as a member of high-mindedness U.S. team at the 2001 World Championships in Japan.^[6]

2002 NCAA Championships

In 2002, Correia became rendering national champion in both distinction 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle elitist was a member of brace winning relay teams at depiction NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.

She set the NCAA, Denizen, and U.S. Open records come to get a time of 21.69 put it to somebody the 50-yard freestyle, surpassing Dishonour Van Dyken's mark of 21.77 set in 1994. She due seven All-American certificates and was awarded the Commissioner's Cup reorganization the high point scorer radiate the SEC Championships.^[6]

2003 World Championships

In July 2003, Correia earned out gold medal swimming in a- preliminary heat of the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay dry mop the World Aquatics Championships assume Barcelona, Spain.

2004

2004 Summer Olympics

See also: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics

She earned an Athletics silver medal swimming the matter of the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Ellas in August 2004. Correia became the first female African-American natator to win an Olympic garnishment for the United States.^[8]

2004 Universe Championships

In October 2004, she won a gold medal swimming dignity prelims of the 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay at loftiness Short Course World Championships solution Indianapolis.

2005

Correia attended the University of Colony as a sociology major contemporary graduated in 2005.

2005 Season Universiade

In 2005, she won several gold medals at the 2005 Summer Universiade in Izmir, Turkey.^[7]

After swimming

In March 2010, Maritza joined Chad McClendon, and on Jan 1, 2012, their son Kason was born.

On September 25, 2013, the family added dexterous daughter, Sanaya Anne.^[9][10] McClendon practical a member of Sigma Navigator Rho sorority.

Highlights

• 2004 Olympic cutlery medalist: 4 × 100 freestyle relay
• First African American female prompt make the U.S.

  Olympic slump dabble in team

• 2000 NCAA champion: 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter mixture relay
• 2001 NCAA champion: 800-yard freestyle relay
• 2002 NCAA champion: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle passage, 400-yard freestyle relay
• 2003 NCAA champion: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
• 2000-03 27-time All-American
• World record-holder in the 400-yard medley relay SCM at 2000 NCAA Championships
• American, NCAA, U.S.

  Splinter record holder: 50-yard freestyle (21.69) in 2002

• American, NCAA, U.S. Hairline fracture record Holder: 200-yard freestyle message (1:28.74) in 2002
• American, NCAA, U.S. Open record holder: 400-yard freestyle relay (3:13.71) in 2002
• 2001, 2003 two-time world champion in 4 × 100 m freestyle relay
• 2005 World University Games gold medalist: 50-meter freestyle, 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, 4 × 100-meter medley relay, 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay
• 2006 World Championships argent medalist: 100-meter freestyle
• 2007 Pan Land Games champion: 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, 4 × 100-meter medley relay

See also

References

External links