Nancy Hogshead

Nancy Hogshead swam for Duke University, earning the first swim scholarship at a school not known as a swimming power. She only swam one year at Duke, winning four ACC titles and was a two-time All-American. She was US short-course champion in 1984 in the 220 yard freestyle, and qualified for the 1984 Olympic team. At Los Angeles Hogshead won three gold medals, tying with Carrie Steinseifer for first in the 100 freestyle, and winning two relay gold medals. She also added a silver medal in the 200 IM. In the 200 butterfly, Hogshead was challenging for a medal but suffered bronchial spasm near the end of the race, which led to a diagnosis of asthma.

Hogshead graduated from Duke in 1986 and then attended Georgetown Law School. She became a spokesperson for the American Lung Association, speaking up for people with asthma. While in college she had been an intern for the Women’s Sport Foundation and became a member of its Board of Trustees from 1987-93 and served as its President in 1993-94. She has become an important spokesperson for gender equity in sports. Hogshead has served on the faculty at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, and as the director of the Legal Advocacy Center for Women in Sports.

Nancy Hogshead has received numerous honors for sports career and her work to promote women in sports. She is a member of multiple Halls of Fame, as follows: International Swimming Hall of Fame (1994), Duke University Sports Hall of Fame (1994), Florida Sports Hall of Fame (1995), International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame (2001), International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame (2004), Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2007), Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame (2008), and the Academic All-America Hall of Fame (2008). In 2002 Hogshead received a honorary doctorate degree from Springfield College. In 2007 she was named as one of the most influential people in the 35 year history of Title IX by Sports Illustrated.