Olympic medalist Kristy Kowal will be a part of a new class of inductees into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame that includes the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.
Kowal, now 36 years old, is a Pennsylvania native and one of the state’s many famous home-grown swimming stars. She won a silver medal in the 200 breaststroke at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the same year she helped the Georgia Bulldogs win its fourth team title in a row and won the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Another highlight of that year was setting the short course meters world record in the 400 medley relay at the NCAA championships.
Kowal was a multiple high school state champion in Pennsylvania for Wilson High School, and currently works as a teacher in her alma mater’s school district. She’s already been inducted into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009 and Georgia’s aquatics Hall of Fame in 2013.
Kowal will be one of nine inductees into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, according to an article in the Reading Eagle. The most recognizable name is the late Joe Paterno, who was head coach of the Penn State football team for 45 years. He stepped down in 2011 amid allegations of knowing about sexual misconduct involving staff member Jerry Sandusky.
Kowal will be the tenth swimmer in the Hall of Fame, which includes Olympic champions Jeremy Linn and Johnny Weismuller.
Other members of the new Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame 2015 Class:
P.J. Carlesimo, basketball coach
Bill Corman, footballChip Lutz, golf
Eric Crabtree, football
Neal Olkewicz, football
Bernie Parent, hockey
Gray Simons, wrestling