Melanie Valerio

Melanie Valerio won multiple international relay medals, including a gold in the 4x100 freestyle relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She also won a gold in the same event at the 1998 World Championships. Valerio won four gold medals in relays at the Pan Pacific Championships, competing between 1993-97.

Valerio swam in college at the University of Virginia. She won seven ACC titles and was named All-American in six events during her college career. In 1990 she was named the ACC Swimmer of the Year. Valerio was the first swimmer ever sponsored by Nike.

Valerio continued to compete after college and her international career wound down, and she almost qualified for the 2016 US Olympic Trials at the age of 47. She morphed into racing triathlons and doing Ironman events, and became an elite age-group member of the Timex Multisport Team. She has also worked as a fitness director for Timex. As a triathlete she was sponsored by the rock band, Cheap Trick.