Sharon Finneran

1962-3 World Records - 400m IM, 200m Fly, 200m Breast At 15, swimming with the Los Angeles Athletic Club, Sharon broke the standing world record for the 400-meter individual medley on July 28, 1962, before a crowd of 10,000 with a time of 5:21.9 at the Japanese National Swimming Championships, winning over rival and friend Donna DeVarona. Sharon's record time would be challenged and surpassed by the 1964 Olympics. At the August 19, 1962 National AAU Outdoor Championships, Sharon won the 200-meter butterfly, setting a new world record of 2:31.2, and later bettered her own record with a 2:30.9.

1963 Pan Am Games Sharon took a gold medal in the 1963 Pan Am Games in São Paulo, Brazil, swimming the 400-meter individual medley in a Pan Am record time of 4:52.7, which helped the American team pull far ahead in total points. After the Pan Am Games, Sharon worked to build greater endurance, often completing three practices a day, and became known for her work ethic.

'64 Olympic Trials (l to r) M. Randall, D. de Varona, S. Finneran at 1964 Olympic Trials At the August 1964 Olympic Trials in Astoria, New York, she swam her signature event, the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 5:22.2 in the finals, but was edged out by Santa Cruz Swim Club Teammate Donna DeVarona and Vesper Boat Club's Martha Randall. Her third-place finish was adequate, however, to ensure an Olympic spot in 1964 and was around six seconds behind second place Randall's time of 5:17.9. DeVarona's winning time in the trials of 5:14.9 was a new World Record, and bettered her former world record. Though Sharon had excelled in the 400-meter IM for over two years, 1964 was the first year the event was offered in the Olympics, and several of Sharon's most outstanding events were not offered. Her recent world record in the 800-meter freestyle at Nationals was not yet an event included in Olympic competition.

Several of Finneran's other best events, long-distance freestyle and the 200 butterfly were not Women's Olympic events in 1964.

Career swimming achievements Most of her early recorded amateur club competition prior to the age of 17-18 was with the Los Angeles Athletic Club, under Peter Daland who was coaching at USC when she attended. In her Olympic event, Sharon won the 400 IM AAU titles in indoor and outdoor competition. As expected from a World Record holder, she twice won the AAU 200-meter butterfly in outdoor competition, and in distance freestyle won the AAU indoor title for the 1,650-yard event in 1964. In distance events Sharon set six world and thirteen American Records in the 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyle. She also set records in the 200 butterfly, and 800 freestyle, in both the yard and meter event. Her four siblings were competitive swimmers, divers and water polo players. Her brother Mike Finneran placed fifth in springboard diving at the 1972 Summer Olympics, and her daughter Ariel Rittenhouse finished fourth at the 2008 Summer Olympics, also in springboard diving.

She worked as a Dental Hygienist after college, and by 1980 was a permanent resident of Santa Clara, where she would stay busy taking care of her family of five children with husband Bob Rittenhouse, a commercial insurance broker.