Susan Rapp was primarily a breaststroker but also competed in the individual medley. She swam both breaststrokes and the medley relay at the 1984 Olympics, winning a gold and silver medal, and swam the 200 breaststroke at the 1988 Olympics. Rapp won two medals at the 1983 Pan American Games, silver in the 200 breast and bronze in the 200 IM. She swam in college at Stanford, where she won NCAA titles in the 200 yard breaststroke in 1984 and 1987 and the 200 yard individual medley in 1986. Rapp’s most significant international title came in winning the 1983 Pan Pacific title in the 200 breaststroke. She also competed at the 1986 World Championships.
After college, Rapp started a marketing career, but after marriage and children, elected to become a stay-at-home mom. She later resumed competitive swimming in Masters’ events and actually considered competing at the 2008 US Olympic Trials, after she made the qualifying times, but decided not to do so.