Pam Kruse

Pamela Jean Kruse (born June 3, 1950) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in two events.

Kruse attended and swam for Pine Crest High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a highly competitive program, where she was trained by Hall of Fame Coach Jack Nelson. Her Pine Crest teammate Marilyn Corson, a 1968 Olympic bronze medalist from Canada, would later swim with her at Michigan State.

Kruse represented the United States as an 18-year-old at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where she competed in two freestyle events. She received a silver medal for her second-place performance in the women's 800-meter freestyle (9:35.7), finishing behind American teammate Debbie Meyer (9:24.0). She also swam in the women's 400-meter freestyle and placed fourth in the event final, and recorded a time of 4:37.2.

After the Olympics, Kruse attended Michigan State University with fellow Olympians Linda Gustavson, and 1968 Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Marilyn Corson. Gustavson and Kruse were members of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority together. Kruse swam for the Michigan State Spartans swimming and diving team in Big Ten Conference competition, where she won conference championships in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, and the 400-yard freestyle relay in 1971. She graduated from Michigan State with her bachelor's degree in 1973, master's in 1975, and Ph.D. in 1979.