USA Olympic gold and silver medalist, Rachel Komisarz, begins her fourth year on the University of Louisville Swimming and Diving Team coaching staff and her third year as a full-time assistant coach. The Warren, Michigan native was a member of the 2004 USA Olympic Team where she won a gold and silver medal in Athens, Greece. She had the honor of representing her county in the 800 free relay that brought home the gold medal and the 400 medley relay that placed second. Komisarz, a 1999 graduate from the University of Kentucky, was a three time SEC Champion and a seven time NCAA All-American from 1996-1999. Coached by Gary Conelly, she was the SEC Swimmer of the Year and won the SEC Commissioner's Award. Swimming in college was just the beginning of her swimming career. After graduating from UK, Komisarz hit swimming's International stage. In 2001, she was a five-time World University Games medalist, tying the most medals won by a femeverlale swimmer during the games. This set off her professional swimming career and was offered a contract with Speedo in late 2001. She went on to represent Team USA in 2003 at the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, where as a member of the 800-free relay, Komisarz set her first American recond and became a World Champion. In 2004, the highlight of Komisarz's career was winning the 100 fly at the Olympic trials to earn her spot on the Olympic Team where she brought home a gold and silver medal. In 2005, she continued her career and qualified for the World Championships in Montreal, Canada where she helped the 400 medley relay win silver. In 2006, she edged out her national competition again and became a National Champion for the second time also earning a spot on the Pan Pacific Championship Team, winning a silver medal in the 100-fly and a gold medal in the 400 medley relay. Later that year, she was a silver medalist in the 100 fly and won gold in both the 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay at the Short Course World Championships. In 2007, Komisarz became a National Champion for the third time in the 100-fly and was recognized as a leader and voted by her teammates as the team captain of the Japan Grand Prix Meet. During the last year of Komisarz professional career in 2008, she set five American records in the 50-fly, the 100-fly, the 400 free relay, 800free relay and the 400 medley relay at the Short Course World Championships. The gold medal finish in the 400 medley relay also awarded Komisarz with her first World Record performance. In all, she won 23 International medals and broke five American Records and one World Record.She and her husband Jeff Baugh were married on April 22nd, 2007 during a sunset beach wedding in Marco Island, FL. Sport Achievements 2004 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist 2007 World Championship Team member, Melbourne, Australia 2006 Pan Pacific Games- 2nd 100 fly, 1st 400 Medley relay 2006 Runner up National Champion 100 fly 2006 Short Course World Champs- 2nd 100 fly 2005 National Champion- 100 fly 2005 LC World Championships- 4th 100 fly, 2nd 400 medley relay, 1st 800 freestyle relay 2004 Olympic Trial Champion- 100 fly 2004 Olympic Games- 1st 800 free relay, 2nd 400 medley relay 2004 SC World Championships- 1st 800 free relay, 2nd 100 fly 2003 World Champion and American Record Holder 2002 SC World Championships- AMERICAN RECORD 400 medley relay AMERICAN RECORD 800 free relay USA National Team member from 2001- present Five time World University medallist, Aug 2001 Seven time NCAA All-American SEC Swimmer of the Year 1999, SEC Commissioners award 1999 Three time SEC Champion in 200 fly, 500 free, 1650 free, 1999 |
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