Heather Olson Named Stanford Synchronized Swimming Coach

Courtesy: Stanford University

July 31, 2001

STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford Athletic Department announced Tuesday that Heather Olson has accepted the head coaching position for the Stanford women's synchronized swimming team.

Olson (formerly Pease), a Cardinal student-athlete from 1997-99, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Stanford.

"I'm extremely excited," Olson said. "Stanford is my ideal place. After the Olympics, I thought that I would like to return to Stanford in any capacity.

"This is a real honor. I know the girls well from my time as a volunteer coach last year, and I feel that I have a good perspective on what it takes to be a great student-athlete. I hope I can use my personal experiences at Stanford to help the team success both academically and athletically."

"The Athletic Department is thrilled to have a coach of Heather's integrity, leadership ability, experience, and national reputation return to Stanford after her illustrious swimming career," Stanford athletic director Ted Leland said. "Heather brings with her a special passion for Stanford and Stanford Synchronized Swimming, as well as an understanding of the needed balance between athletics and academics."

Olson was a member of the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Synchronized Swimming Teams and won a gold medal in 1996. She was honored as the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Athlete of the Year in both '96 and 2000.

Before she was named U.S. Synchronized Swimming National Team Director in April of this year, she spent six years as a synchronized swimming consultant, initiating and instructing intensive workshops for coaches and swimmers in the field. She also served as the Stanford volunteer synchronized swimming coach last season. In addition, she spent three years as a synchronized swimming coach with Walnut Creek Aquatics (1995, 1998, and 1999).

Olson graduated from Stanford University in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in English. While on the Farm, she was the 1997 team captain and led the team to its first-ever NCAA Championship in 1998. She was named a U.S. Synchronized Swimming All-American from 1994-96 and again in 2000. Olson received the Block "S" Outstanding Athlete Award her junior year (1998).