Rebecca Soni

View Rebecca Soni's Biography

“Achieving my dream of going below 2 minutes and 20 seconds in the 200m breaststroke really put the storybook ending on my career.”

Meet Record for Rebecca Soni in the 100 Breast

Full Name:	Rebecca Soni
Nickname(s):	Reb
Born:	March 18th, 1987
	Freehold, New Jersey, USA
Nationality:	United States of America
Status:	Retired

Rebecca Soni is a retired American Olympic swimmer who specialized in breaststroke. She is a six-time Olympic medalist, a former World-Record holder in the breaststroke events and was the first woman to swim the 200-meter breaststroke in under two minutes and twenty seconds. She currently holds the World-Record as part of the American 4x100-meter medley relay in both the short course and long course meter versions. Soni was named Swimming World’s World Swimmer of the Year in 2010 and 2011, and received the same award as American Swimmer of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Personal Life Rebecca Soni was the second child born to parents Peter and Kinga Soni in Freehold, New Jersey on March 18, 1987. Soni’s parents are of Hungarian and Romanian descent, emigrating from Cluj-Napoca, Romania prior to Rebecca’s birth. Growing up in Plainsboro, New Jersey, Soni has one older sister, Rita, who swam collegiately at Texas A&M University. Originally, Rebecca was a gymnast but began swimming at the age of ten and continued her career at the Scarlet Aquatic Club. At the age of 17, Soni competed at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, finishing 15th overall in the 100-meter breaststroke and 11th overall in the …

Meet Record for Rebecca Soni in the 100 Breast

1:06.33 in the prelims of the 100 breaststroke at the 2012 US Olympic Trials

Tuesday Prelims Heat Sheets: Clary Scratches 200 Free

There will be no Tyler Clary in this morning’s 200 free, but Phelps-Lochte part 2 is on tap. (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com

Loaded Lineup for Trials Autograph Sessions

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay will be among those signing in Omaha (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Ricky Berens, US Olympic Trials Preview

(Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Rapid Recap of a Wild Weekend

Garrett McCaffrey gets you caught up on European Championships, Mel Zajac Invitational, Japan Open, and The Speedo Grand Challenge. (Photo Courtesy: ©TIm Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Soni Outduels Hardy on Grand Challenge Night 1

Rebecca Soni and Jessica Hardy had a classic showdown in Irvine (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Picks: Hansen’s Return a Savior for American 100 Breaststroke

But which young swimmers have the ability to challenge him? (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

A Happy Homecoming for Ricky Berens

Give Garrett 5 minutes and he’ll catch you up on everything you need to know from the Charlotte UltraSwim, German Olympic Trials, and the CIF Central Coast High School Championships. (Photo Courtesy © Tim Binning, TheSwimPictures.com)

Berens and Soni Stun Crowds at UltraSwim Day 2

The swimming power-couple starred including a world-leader, and an upset of the Phelps-Lochte battle. (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Garrett Reports: Weekend Edition, SwimSwam News

A new coach in Tuscaloosa, and a rapid recap of CIF Champs, German Trials, and the Charlotte UltraSwim. (Photo Courtesy © Tim Binning, TheSwimPictures.com)

UltraSwim Day 2 Prelims: Lawrence Fast; SwimSwam Giveaways

Micah Lawrence was on fire at the UltraSwim, and we’ve got free stuff if you want it.

The Ultra Quick Ultraswim Preview

Garrett attempts to give you what you want to know about the 2012 Ultraswim in less than a minute. (Photo Courtesy © Tim Binning, TheSwimPictures.com)

10 Big Things for UltraSwim: Phelps Lightens His Load

And 9 other of the most intriguing stories for Charlotte (Photo Courtesy: ©Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Dana Vollmer, London Olympic Preview

“Dana may be the female breakout story of the London Olympics with multiple shots at Olympic hardware.”

Medal Hopefuls in Moscow and Mission

Garrett Reports on this past week of racing around the world, and he’ll bring it to you like he’s running down the French on the anchor leg of the 4×100 Free Relay… in world record time. (Photo Courtesy: Melissa Lundie)