Kelly Kryczka

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameKelly Marie•Kryczka (-Irwin)
Used nameKelly•Kryczka
Born8 July 1961 in Calgary, Alberta (CAN)
Measurements168 cm / 55 kg
AffiliationsCalgary Aquabelles, Calgary (CAN)
NOC Canada
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Kelly Kryczka took up synchronized swimming at nine years old and was a Junior Canadian Champion at the age of sixteen. Two years later she was a senior medalist at the 1979 Pan American Games, having won silver in the team event and gold in the duet with the non-Olympic Helen Vanderburg. Sharon Hambrook replaced the retiring Vanderburg in 1980 and together they defeated Penny and Vicky Vilagos at the Canadian Championships in 1980 and 1982, earning the right to represent their country in the duet at the 1982 World Championships. There they claimed gold in the duet and the team competition, while Kryczka, who was the 1980 Canadian solo champion, took silver in the solo event. After losing their national crown to the Vilagos twins in 1983, they captured gold in the team event at the Pan American Games, while Hambrook took silver in the solo competition. Prevailing at the Canadian Olympic trials, the duo travelled to the 1984 Summer Games, where they won silver in the duet. Kryczka was also eliminated in the opening round of the solo, despite earning the fourth-best score in the figures, as only one participant per nation was allowed to advance, and eventual silver medalist Carolyn Waldo had the second-best result, while Hambrook had the third-best. Hambrook and Kryczka retired after the Games; the latter was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1996.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1984 Summer Olympics Artistic Swimming (Aquatics) CAN Kelly Kryczka
Solo, Women (Olympic) AC r1/3
Duet, Women (Olympic) Sharon Hambrook 2 Silver

Special Notes