Jane Swagerty

Jane Ellen Swagerty (born July 30, 1951), later known by her married names, Jane Caldwell, and Jane Swagerty Hill, is an American former competition swimmer who competed for Southern Oregon University and was a 1968 Mexico City Olympic bronze medalist in the 100-meter backstroke. After the birth of her two daughters, she returned to competitive swimming in middle age, became an accomplished U.S. Masters Swimmer and had a second marriage to Don Hill. Growing up in Stockton, she attended Lincoln High School, graduating in 1968. From an athletic family, Jane's father Floyd played football for College of the Pacific, and Jane's cousin Keith Swagerty was an All-American basketball player for the University of the Pacific, later playing professionally for the Houston Mavericks. Her swimming career began around age five, with the local Lincoln Swim Team, training at the community pool in Lincoln Village. She began to gain local attention in swimming by the age of 11, and by 14 represented Stockton's West Lane Tennis and Swim Club under Coach Fred Van Dyke. Swimming for the West Lane Club in May 1965, she qualified and won a title in the 100 backstroke at the Junior Olympic Championships with a time of 1:06.6 at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento. An early multi-stroke competitor, at the Alameda Air Station Meet in February 1965, in the 13-14 age group category, she placed third in breaststroke, and fourth in both back and butterfly.

Relocating to Santa Clara in her Junior Year, she attended San Jose's Camden High School, and lived with her Aunt and Uncle in San Jose so she could train and compete with the Santa Clara Swim Club under Hall of Fame Coach George Haines. She returned to Lincoln High in her Senior Year.

1968 Mexico City Olympics At the 1968 Olympic trials in Los Angeles on August 28, despite swimming with a badly cut stitched finger, Swagerty finished second in the finals of the 100-meter backstroke to Olympic team mate, Kaye Hall. Swagerty subsequently trained six weeks with the U.S. Olympic team in Colorado Springs to increase her competitive edge and adjust to the altitude of Mexico City. During her Olympic training and later competition she was managed by 1968 U.S. Women's Olympic Coach Sherm Chavoor of the Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento. On October 23, 1968, Swagerty received a bronze medal for her third-place performance in the women's 100-meter backstroke (1:08.1), finishing behind fellow American Kaye Hall who set a world record of (1:06.2) and Canadian Elaine Tanner who swam a (1:06.7).

In a memorable event, Swagerty swam the backstroke leg in the preliminary heats of the women's 100-meter medley relay for the gold medal-winning U.S. team, Demonstrating achievement in multiple strokes, Swagerty later tied the collegiate national record for the 100 yard backstroke, and in the individual medley event, established a new regional record as well. As of 2024, her Southern Oregon records remain.

Honors In March, 1969, Swaggerty was honored as Stockton's Athlete of the Year at a local banquet, and was recognized for her bronze medal by the California State legislature in a resolution written by Congressman Robert Morgan.