Clara LaMore

Clara LaMore swam breaststroke at the 1948 Olympics, but failed to get past the first round. She was AAU outdoor champion in the 200 m breaststroke in 1945, and won AAU titles indoors in the 100 yard breaststroke in 1947 and the 220 yard breaststroke in 1948. LaMore vowed to stop swimming after the 1948 Olympics. She worked for a telephone company, joined a cloistered religious order for a time, and graduated from Providence College. She taught school and became a guidance counselor at Western Hills High School.

However, when she was 54-years-old LaMore began to have difficulty with back pain and a doctor recommended she resume swimming, after 33 years out of the pool. She not only got back in the pool, but became the greatest masters swimmer of her era. She was undefeated for over 10 years, and was selected the Outstanding Masters Swimmer in her age group for eight consecutive years, competing into her 70s. She set over 180 world records, and 465 American records. LaMore-Walker was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1968.