Natalie Coughlin Cooking for Cal Aquatics Gala Fundraiser Winners

Natalie Coughlin is not only one of the most accomplished American swimmers in history, with a total of 12 Olympic medals to her name.

She is also increasingly growing her reputation within the world of food, having made appearances on such food specials as Top Chef America, and most recently on a sports-celebrity edition of “Chopped,” where she survived until the final round, dessert (something Coughlin confesses she doesn’t make very often), and fell to race car driver Danica Patrick.

Tonight, Saturday, Coughlin is playing for another cause: the Cal Aquatics program that is such a huge part of her success. Every year since 2005, Coughlin, as a part of the big Cal Aquatics fundraiser in November, auctions off dinner for 8, made by her, at the winner’s house. Tonight is when the winners of the 2012 prize are cashing in, and they’ve been treated to individual lasagnas hand-made by Coughlin, among other delectable treats.

The 2012 gala was especially-special, it and the momentum it created pushed Cal over the edge for the fundraising on a brand-new, athletics-only facility for Cal. As of now, both swimming teams, both diving programs, and both water polo programs have been sharing a single pool with recreational swimmers, and still developed one of the country’s top aquatics programs.

One of the guests at tonight’s party shared a few pictures of Coughlin (as I write) hard at work prepping for her patrons. This is a great time for Coughlin to combine her love for swimming with her love for cooking into one great, and worthwhile, fundraiser.

Bon Appétit!