Judy Melick

Judith Ellen Melick (born June 4, 1954) is an American former competition swimmer who swam with the Scarlet Jets Swim Club, and Rutgers University under Coach Frank Elm and swam the 100-meter breaststroke event as part of the U.S. team at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Early education and swimming Melick was born to George and Florence Melick on June 4, 1954, in Summit, New Jersey. Both of Melick's parents would serve on the Rutger's University faculty. Judy came from a swimming family with sisters Karen and Linda and brother Bob all swimming and competing. A 1972 graduate of Rutgers Preparatory School, she attended Franklin Township High during her Freshman and Sophomore years. Diverse in her stroke skills, Melick set a New Jersey State record in the 100-yard backstroke of 1:12.6, at the New Jersey AAU Senior Women's Championship, breaking the old record by half a second.

1972 Olympics On August 5, 1972, at the Olympic trials in Chicago, despite formerly being ranked 37th in the 100 breaststroke,

She swam the breaststroke leg for the gold medal-winning U.S. team in the preliminary heats of the women's 4×100-meter medley relay, but was ineligible to receive a medal under the 1972 rules because she did not compete in the event final.

Swimming for Rutgers Beginning in the Fall of 1972, Melick attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she became the first female swimmer to receive an athletic scholarship. She competed for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights swimming and diving team, even before the university had formed its separate women's swimming team, training and traveling with the men's team before becoming the first captain of the women's swimming team when it was established in 1976. In 1975, Melick captured All-American honors in the 100-yard breaststroke while still competing with the men's team. In 1976, Melick was the first person to be awarded the Rutgers Outstanding Senior Female Athlete (Headley-Singer) Award. In both the 1975 and 1976 seasons, Rutgers newly formed women's swim team were undefeated in regular season meets at 20-0 and in 1976 were champions of the Eastern AIAW for Women. Melick was second at the AIAW meet in the 100 breaststroke and earned a second place on the 200 and 400 medley relays.