Natalie Coughlin
Natalie Coughlin—or Queen Natalie, as perhaps she should henceforth be called—was born in Vallejo, California, in 1982. Coughlin lives in California with her husband, Crow Canyon Sharks Coach, Ethan Hall. She has dogs, enjoys cooking and eating good food, and she also appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2009. She continues to train at Cal Berkley but switched from the women’s team to train with the men ahead of the Rio Olympics.
Background and Early Success
Coughlin began her illustrious swimming career at age 6, and by the time she was a high school student Coughlin achieved national recognition. She set national high school records in both the 200-yard IM and the 100-yard backstroke, which would soon become one of her best events. In 1998, at age 16, Coughlin qualified for every single event at summer nationals, proving her talent and versatility.
NCAA Career
Under renowned coach Teri McKeever at the University of California, Coughlin made history as the first female to ever swim the 100-meter backstroke in under one minute in 2002. She is a three-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year and three-time Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year. She won 12 NCAA titles and upheld an undefeated dual meet record throughout her collegiate career (61-0). She still holds Cal records in the 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly, and remains Cal’s most decorated swimmer of all time.
Early National and International Competition
Coughlin made her international debut at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships, and won her first international medals at the 2001 World Championships (gold, 100 backstroke and 800 freestyle relay; silver, 400 medley relay; bronze, 50 backstroke). She consistently competed at Pan Pacs (2002, 2006, 2010) and World Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013).
Coughlin’s Olympic resume is perhaps most impressive among all her accomplishments. After becoming the first female sub-1 minute 100 backstroker, she qualified first in the 100 backstroke and second in the 100 freestyle at 2004 Trials.
2004 Olympic Games
In Athens, Coughlin won her first Olympic golds in the 100 backstroke and as part of the world-record-setting 800m freestyle relay. (She also picked up silver medals in the 400m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay, as well as bronze in the 100m freestyle.)
2005 World Championships
In Montreal, Coughlin added 5 medals to her collection, including gold in the 800 free relay, silver in the 100 free and 400 medley relay, and bronze in the 100 back and 400 free relay.
2007 World Championships
Her World Championship career is highlighted by several American and World Records at the 2007 meet. These include American records in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly (bronze), and world records in the 100m backstroke and 800m freestyle relay. She also won silver medals in the 400 free and medley relays in Melbourne.
2008 Olympic Games
Four years later Coughlin cemented her spot as one of the most successful swimmers in the U.S. In 2008 she became the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the same event when she once again dominated the 100m backstroke in Beijing. Both times she beat African rival, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe. Coughlin also picked up silver medals in the 400m freestyle and medley relays, as well as bronze medals in the 200m IM, the 100m freestyle (in which she set an American record), and the 800m freestyle relay.
2011 World Championships
Coughlin won a hat trick of medals in Shanghai, scoring gold in the 400 medley relay, silver in the 400 free relay, and bronze in the 100 back.
2012 Olympic Games
At the London Games in 2012, she won bronze as part of the 400m freestyle relay, continuing her Olympic streak.
2013 World Championships
In 2013, Coughlin won national titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at Winter Nationals, and earlier that year became the woman with the highest number of FINA World Championship medals as she secured #20 in the 400m freestyle relay in Barcelona.
2015 Season
In 2015 Coughlin decided to prolong retirement, and continue training for Rio. After the disappointment of not qualifying for individual events at the 2012 games, Coughlin switched from long-time coach Teri McKeever and the Cal Bears women’s team to the mens team under Dave Durden.
She toured the nation competing at the Arena Pro Swim series, ending the tour in Santa Clara. She competed in the 50m backstroke, and she set a new American and U.S. Open Records in 27.51, improving Rachel Bootsma’s previous mark of 27.68.
By May 1, 2015 Coughlin had already hit a FINA World Championship ‘A’ qualifying mark in the 100m freestyle.
Coughlin competed at the Pan American Games that summer, winning gold in the 400 medley relay (leading off in a time of 59.05), silver in the 100 free and 400 free relay, and bronze in the 50 free.
2016 Olympic Trials
Coughlin entered the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 back in Omaha. She finished 8th in the 100 back and 14th in the 100 free. After these results, she decided not to swim the 50 free and end the meet there.
2017 – SwimSquads
In late 2017, it was announced that Coughlin would serve as 1 of 4 captains on the newly minted USA Swimming SwimSquads.
2018
In September of 2018, Coughlin was elected as an athlete member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors at the United States Aquatic Sports convention last month in Jacksonville.
On October 17, 2018, Natalie gave birth to her first child, Zennie Mae Hall. Zennie is her mother’s name.
2019 – Return to Competition
On June 11, 2019, half of the ISL Team rosters were announced. During that meeting, Coughlin confirmed that she would be competing in the ISL. Coughlin never formally retired, but she hadn’t competed in any USA Swimming meets since the 2016 Olympic Trials, and in 2017 she said that she was probably done with national team competition. In the years since she stepped back from serious training and competing, she remained involved with the sport as a commentator and as a GM of one of USA Swimming’s SwimSquads. However, Coughlin said on June 11 that she’s looking forward to competing once again, and had been seriously training for about six weeks.
