Karen Josephson

Karen Julia Josephson (born January 10, 1964) is a former American synchronized swimmer who competed for Ohio State University and was a 1988 Olympic silver medalist and a 1992 Olympic gold medalist.

Ohio State University Enrolling around 1981, Josephson and her sister Sarah attended and competed in synchronized swimming for the strong program at Ohio State University from 1982-1985 under Head Coach Dr. Mary Jo Ruggieri. Karen's syncro coach, Dr. Ruggieri coached the Ohio State team from 1970-1995, leading them to 17 of the 19 National Championships for Collegiate synchronized swimming in which the team participated. In duet competition, Karen paired with sister Sarah earned nine NCAA national titles.

Olympic medals Karen partnered with her twin sister Sarah Josephson to win a silver medal in the women's duet at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and then a gold medal in the same event with her sister at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona where she was managed by U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team Hall of Fame Head Coach Gail Emery.

Sarah and Karen spent twelve years on the U.S. National Synchronized swimming team. After graduating Ohio State University in 1985, the sisters moved to Walnut Creek, California to train with Gail Emery and the U.S. National Team. After college, they swam for a period with Emery's Walnut Creek Aquanuts team.

Sarah and her sister Karen were American National Synchronized Swimming Champions in Duet competition seven times.

Honors Karen became a member of The Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1997. She became a member of Connecticut's Bristol Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. At the time of their induction, Sarah and sister Karen were only one of two Synchronized Swimming duet teams to become members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.