SPORTS NEWS
March 27, 2009
Shirley Babashoff Is Pure Gold
During Women's History Month, TFK looks back at the career of a brave U.S. swimmer
Shirley Babashoff is one of the greatest swimmers ever to compete for the United States. At the 1972 Olympics, in Munich, Germany, she won the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay and silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle. She was just 15 years old! Three years later, Babashoff won both the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle at the1975 World Championship. In her career, she scored five World Championships and 27 National titles. She set 11 world records and 29 American records. In 1976, at the Olympics in Montreal, Babashoff won the gold in the 400-meter freestyle relay and the silver in the 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle and 400-meter-medley relay. Babashoff was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1982 and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1987.
 |  AP Shirley Babashoff (left) and her teammates show off their gold medals. They won the freestyle relay at the 1972 Olympics. |
Babashoff accomplished great feats. But many people remember her best for speaking out against the use of performance-enhancing drugs. For the past 20 years, Babashoff has been a mail carrier in Huntington Beach, California. In an interview with TFK, she discussed her swimming career and her brave stand against the use of steroids.
She Was RightIn 1976, Babashoff suspected that East German athletes were taking steroids to become better swimmers. She spoke out against it. At the time, she was criticized for her outspokenness. Many accused her of being a sore loser. After all, she had come in second while the East Germans won gold. Critics gave Babashoff the nickname "Surly Shirley."
As it turned out, Babashoff was right. East German swim coaches later admitted to giving their athletes steroids. (In 1990, East and West Germany united to form one country.) "I don't expect them to send me the medals," Babashoff said in 1991. "But I would like for them to say, 'We're going to change all the record books and make you the winner, because these people were on drugs.' That would make me feel good."
The Right Thing To DoBabashoff started swimming in competitions when she was 9 years old. She says that her favorite stroke was the freestyle because that's what she was the best at. Competing in her first Olympics, in Munich, at 15 was an "amazing experience," she says.
Four years later, Babashoff participated in the Montreal Olympics. She was 19 years old when she spoke out against drug use. She believes that she had no choice but to complain about the athletes who were cheating. "It was the right thing to do," she explains. "In the long run, it helped change sports for the better." If she had the chance, she would do it again, she says.
The Olympian says that the medal that she's most proud of is the 400-meter freestyle relay gold that she and her teammates earned in Montreal. It was the only gold medal the U.S. won for swimming that year. Babashoff and her teammates competed against swimmers who had an unfair advantage but they still finished first.
Today, people still recognize Babashoff. She admits that it makes her happy that people appreciate what she did. As for what advice she has for young athletes? "Do what ever it is that you want to do," she says. "Your dream can be accomplished." That goes not only for athletes, but also for all kids.
