Susan Shields

Susan Marie Shields (born February 3, 1952), also known by her married name Susan White beginning in 1975, is an American former competition swimmer who competed for Plantation Swim Club and was a 1968 Mexico City Olympic bronze medalist in the 100-meter butterfly. After graduating from Eastern High School in 1970, she earned a degree in Elementary Education, married, and worked as a swim coach. Relocating frequently with her husband and two children, she had a thirty-year career teaching pre-school children.

Early life and swimming Shields was born the fourth of five siblings in Erie, Pennsylvania, on February 3, 1952, to father John and mother Helen Shields. Swimming twenty miles east of Erie in a local pond in Findley Lake, New York, around 1954, Susan tried to swim with a life jacket, but went head under, prompting the Shields to consider future swim lessons. Susan began competitive swimming at age eight, and by Junior High was training and competing with greater Louisville, Kentucky's Plantation Swim Team. With the family living in nearby Anchorage, Kentucky, a Louisville suburb, Susan attended Louisville's Eastern High School, graduating in 1970.

Shields would become a High School All American, and would remain undefeated during High School against Kentucky residents in butterfly events.

1968 Mexico City Olympics At the late August 1968 U.S. Olympic Trials in Los Angeles Shields placed second in the finals of the 100-meter butterfly. Shields and Elie Daniels appeared to touch together, but an electronic clock timed Shields at 1:04.8, only .02 seconds behind the first-place finisher Ellie Daniel of Philadelphia. Shortly before the Olympics, in preparation for the altitude in Mexico City, Shields trained with the U.S. Olympic team at the United States Airforce Academy facilities in Colorado Springs.

Leaving for Mexico City around October 8, Shields represented the United States as a 16-year-old at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where she received a bronze medal for her third-place performance in the women's 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:06.2, finishing behind Australian Lyn McClements and fellow American Ellie Daniel, against whom she had competed in prior months. American teammate, rival, and silver medalist Daniel finished with a time of 1:05.8, only .4 seconds ahead of Susan. Shields was a close second to leader McClements at the first turn, but was later passed by Daniel. Though not initially favored to win, McClements, who led throughout the close race, took the gold with a 1:05.5.

After her husband James completed his education at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the couple relocated to Toledo, Ohio, around 1980, where Susan continued to work as a teacher. Staying active in the swimming community, she coached youth swimming at Toledo's Sylvania Swim Club, through at least 1988. Each of her two children trained with the Sylvania Club. Continuing her career as an educator, she taught at Olivet Christian Nursery in 1988, and had a long career teaching pre-school children of 4–5 years for just over 30 years. She spent many years taking her two children to swim practices and swim meets.

Honors In September, 1968, Kentucky Governor Louie B. Nunn awarded Shields with the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel recognizing her as the first Louisville women to make the U.S. Olympic team.