Ruiz-Conforto Named Synchro Swimmer of the Century

May 11, 2001

Three-time Olympic medalist Tracie Ruiz-Conforto will be named the
Synchronized Swimmer of the Century by the International Swimming Hall of
Fame on Friday night.

Also among the honorees are 2000 Hall of Fame inductee Gail Emery
(Lafayette, Calif.) and 2001 Paragon Award Winner Charlotte Davis (Seattle,
Wash.).

Voting was conducted in March and April by members of the International
Swimming Hall of Fame and via a worldwide on-line vote at www.ishof.org.
Athletes of the century will also be named in the remaining aquatic
disciplines on Friday night.

"I just don't know what to say. I'm honored to be considered for such a
distinguished award," Ruiz-Conforto said. "The International Swimming Hall
of Fame embodies the spirit and drive of aquatic sports during the past few
decades, and to receive this distinction from my peers is the proudest
moment of my career."

Ruiz-Conforto's storied athletic career, earning more than two-dozen
international and national gold medals, peaked at the 1984 Olympic Games
when she won gold in both the solo and duet events (with Candy Costie) in
the sport's Olympic debut.

Ruiz-Conforto came out of retirement in 1988 to win solo silver before
moving to the announcer's booth for the past three Olympic Games. She is one
of just three athletes to win four consecutive U.S. National Titles, and is
the only athlete to win six solo national titles.

The Seattle, Wash. Native remains active in the sport by providing color
commentary for NBC Olympic coverage and nationally televised synchro events.
She was inducted into the Women's Sports Foundation's International Women's
Sports Hall of Fame in October of 2000.

Ruiz-Conforto was selected over: Gail Johnson, 1973 duet & team, and 1975
solo world champion; Heidi O'Rourke, 1971 solo, duet & team Pan American
Games champ; and Canada's Carolyn Waldo, 1988 Olympic solo & duet gold
medalist, and 1985 and 1987 World Cup champ.

Emery, head coach of Stanford University synchro, was unable to attend the
2000 induction ceremony due to the Olympic Qualifying Event. Emery is a
21-year national team coaching veteran who led her club team, the Walnut
Creek Aquanuts, to an unprecedented 10 consecutive national titles in the
1980s. She has produced 10 of synchro's 22 all-time Olympians, including
eight Olympic gold medallists. Most recently, Emery's Stanford team placed
second in the 2001 U.S. Collegiate Championships, and three of her athletes
were named to the 2001 U.S. National Team.

Davis receives the Paragon Award for exceptional service to synchronized
swimming after serving as National Team Director to Synchro Swimming USA for
the past 16 years. Davis retired in October of 2000. She is a 30-year
coaching veteran who helped establish the national team program in 1979.
Davis coached Tracie Ruiz to her six national titles and three Olympic
medals, and has assisted with coaching all three U.S. National Teams since
the program's inception.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame located in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
honors the world's most influential and accomplished aquatics athletes and
coaches.