Margo Erickson, Education Director for U.S. Synchronized Swimming, retired on Friday April 26, calling an end to a 50-year career in the sport of synchronized swimming.

Erickson had served in the USSS National Office for the past 15 years as Technical Director and later Education Director.

The Minneapolis, Minn. native began her synchro swimming career in 1952, and her coaching career in 1965 as a coach for the Town North YMCA in Dallas, Texas. In 1974, she moved on to coach for the Santa Clara Aquamaids.

However, it was her international influence that made Erickson a familiar and friendly face to the synchro world. Erickson took over as head national coach for the Mexican synchro federation in 1981, guiding Mexico through its first Olympics in 1984. She then served a two-year stint as head coach for the Italian synchro federation before taking over as master coach and technical consultant for Synchro Ontario in 1986.

Erickson is a 1956 graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. with a B.A. in English.