Keena Rothhammer

Keena Rothhammer was a highly talented and versatile swimmer, but one who was also rather inconsistent. She went to the München Olympics as the U.S. third-string for the 800m freestyle, but won the gold medal with a new world record; she had been top U.S. qualifier for the 400m free but finished only in sixth place; and only in the 200m freestyle, where she finished as second American, did she confirm her form of the U.S. Trials. Rothhammer proved to be equally unpredictable at the 1973 World Championships. Although she was the reigning Olympic champion, she failed to win a medal in the 800m; in the 200m she was the U.S. second choice, but won the World Championship; and in the 400m, in which she was the current world record holder, she lost to her teammate, Heather Greenwood. Rothhammer retired after that year and attended Southern Cal.