Keena Rothhammer

Keena Ruth Rothhammer (born February 26, 1957) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.

Rothhammer was born to Jewish parents Grant Roy Rothhammer and Dianne Becker Rothhammer in Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 26, 1957. When their daughters exceptional potential as a competitive swimmer became apparent, the Rothhammers left Little Rock for southern California, where there was a greater availability of outstanding youth programs for exceptional age-group swimmers.

Swimming career As a teenager, she grew up in Santa Clara, California, and trained with the Santa Clara Swim Club under Hall of Fame Coach George Haines, who was noted for training many U.S. Olympic swimmers during the 1960s and 1970s.

Diverse in her stroke skills, she won the 100-meter backstroke in a close finish at the Santa Clara Invitational in July, 1971.

1972 Olympics As a 15-year-old, Rothhammer represented the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. She became the youngest person to ever win the gold medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle and set a new world record of 8:53.68, while establishing world records in the event on two successive days. She also won the bronze medal in the women's 200-meter freestyle at the 1972 Olympics. The same year, she was named North American Athlete of the Year.

Post swimming careers Keena’s retirement from competitive swimming was due in part to serious migraine headaches which started in junior high school. After her retirement, she traveled the country and worked with Special Olympics programs.

In 1976, she married Scott Weisbly, though they later divorced. She lived with her second husband, John Zorovich, in the San Luis Obispo area.

Honors She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1991. She was one of the first inductees into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame.