Angela Coughlan

Angela Denise Coughlan, O.Ont. (October 4, 1952 – June 14, 2009) was a Canadian competition swimmer. At the peak of her competitive swimming career from 1968 to 1971, she was the best Canadian female freestyle specialist, going undefeated in freestyle events at Canadian meets during that time, as well as breaking a world record and 13 Canadian national long course records. As a member of the Canadian national swim team, she anchored the 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley relay teams, and earned both individual and team relay medals at the 1967 Pan American Games, the 1968 Olympics, the 1970 Commonwealth Games and the 1971 Pan American Games. Named Canadian Female Athlete of the Year in 1970, she retired from competitive swimming in 1972 at the age of 19. Part of her post-competitive career was spent as a swim coach and mentor to younger swimmers. She was inducted into the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

Early life Angela Coughlan was born in London, Ontario, before moving to Burlington, Ontario at the age of 7, where she attended Elizabeth Gardens Public School and M.M. Robinson High School. While still quite young, she showed early promise as a swimmer, and including the ability to set aside everything in order to practice.

At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, she swam in four individual events as well as the relays. Despite fighting a stomach ailment,

At the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, she earned a gold medal anchoring the 4x100-metre medley relay, and three silvers (4x100-metre freestyle relay, 100-metre freestyle, 200-metre freestyle). an honour that embarrassed the shy 19-year-old.

In recognition of her efforts in the pool, Coughlan was inducted into the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1992, the Order of Ontario in 1995, and the Burlington Hall of Fame in 2008.

She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2005. A stem cell transplant was initially successful, but she suffered a relapse and succumbed in 2009 at the age of 56, only days before she was to be recognized at the annual Celebration of Significant People Concert in Hamilton, Ontario.

Recognition and legacy 1970: Canadian Female Athlete of the Year and Canadian Female Swimmer of the Year 1972: Angela Coughlan Indoor Pool opens in Burlington, Ontario 1977: Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame 1992: Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame 1995: Order of Ontario 2008: Burlington Hall of Fame