World Record Holder Swimmer-Kate Ziegler

It was nothing but gold for Kate Ziegler.  She burst onto the scene at an early age capturing World titles in 2005 at the age of 16 in the 800 and 1500 meter freestyles.  The next year she became only the second woman to break the 16 minute barrier in the mile.  But those performances were just a taste of what Kate had in store for the world.  In 2007, she captured gold in the 800 and 1500 meter freestyles at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.  In June she shattered the oldest standing World Record in the 1500 meter freestyle by 10 seconds, which was previously held by swimming legend Janet Evans.  She finished off the year by adding two National titles and three more World Records to her long list of accomplishments.

Yet, with great success often comes great disappointment. Personal struggles translated into a disappointing 2008 Olympics for Kate.  Never one to stay knocked down, she rediscovered her passion for swimming and emerged better than ever.  She qualified again for the 2012 Olympics.  Yet, again she left disappointed; this time because of a performance crippling illness.  

However, Kate's disappointing Olympics would not defeat nor define her.  In December 2012, Kate graduated at the top of her class from Chapman University with a Communication degree.  With a degree in hand and experience and success abound, Kate returned to Virginia to pursue another passion of hers- helping others.  Through public speaking and seminars, Kate parlays her athletic experiences to encourage men and women, young and old, to charge after their dreams, without fear of failure.  With unique genuineness, reliability, and experiences, Kate teaches others how to set and achieve goals, maintain perspective, and overcome setbacks, all while never losing sight of the journey.