Kathy Keeler ‘78 is the only Wesleyan graduate to win an Olympic gold medal, stroking the women’s eight crew to a top finish at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She was a member of the U.S. national team in 1982 and was part of the women’s four that captured a silver medal at the World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland. She also qualified for the U.S. Olympic rowing squad in 1980 and has been part of four U.S. national teams.
At Wesleyan, Kathy displayed tremendous rowing talent, helping the Cardinals capture a Dad Vail title in the women’s eight division in 1978, signifying a national small-college rowing crown. Following her competitive rowing career, she was part of the U.S. national team as a coach on six occasions and directed the U.S. women’s double to a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The present Cardinal women’s crew has a four-seat shell that bears Kathy’s name.
Not limiting her Wesleyan athletic talents to crew, Kathy was a three-year member of the women’s basketball team, leading the squad in seasonal scoring and rebounding both her sophomore and junior years. She also played on the field hockey team for one year.
