Molly Hannis

Molly Catherine Hannis (born March 13, 1992) is an American competition swimmer who competed for the University of Tennessee, and participated in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing in 16th place. She won two gold and two bronze medals at the 2016 FINA World Championships in medley and breaststroke events, and a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American games in Lima, Peru. Continuing to specialize in breaststroke events, she has represented the Cali Condors which is part of the International Swimming League.

Biography Early life and family Molly Hannis was born March 13, 1992 in Santa Rosa, California to Michael and Terry Hannis. From a family of aquatic stars, her father was a swimmer at Shippensburg University, and her brother Tyler competed at the University of the Pacific. Her other brother Cory was a diver at Santa Rosa Junior College.

At the 2008 Olympics trials, she finished 23rd in the 100-meter breaststroke. During her four years in college, Hannis was a 2-time NCAA champion and a 14-time NCAA All-American.

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics

At the 2016 US Olympic trials in Omaha, Hannis placed second in the 200 meter breaststroke and qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She swam a 2:26.80 in the 200-meter breaststroke at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics under Head U.S. Women's Olympic Coach David Marsh , putting her in 16th place. Rie Keneto of Japan won the gold with a time of 2:20.30, Yuliya Yefimova of Russia won the silver with a time of 2:21.97, and Shi Jinglin of China won the bronze with a time of 2:28.28.

In the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, she was part of the preliminary U.S. team that won a gold medal in the 100-meter medley.

Coaching As Molly (Hannis) Dunphy, after moving to Savannah with her husband, she became a new assistant swim coach at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), part of the NAIA Powerhouse Program, in 2024. She had served as a volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Tennessee and had been a clinician at Fitter and Faster Swim Tours since retiring from competition.

Honors To attend the University of Tennessee, Molly received the Wayne Basler Women's Athletic Swimming/Diving Scholarship.