Chris von Saltza

Who is Chris von Saltza?

Susan Christina von Saltza is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in three events.

As an age group swimmer, von Saltza swam for coach George Haines' Santa Clara Swim Club and led the club to multiple team championships at the nationals, in addition to winning nineteen individual Amateur Athletic Union titles. She was featured on the July 21, 1958 cover of Sports Illustrated magazine as the "No. 1 U.S. Swimmer at the Age of 14."

At the age of 16, she set the world record in the 400-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials, and proceeded to win four medals at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Individually, she won a gold medal in the women's 400-meter freestyle, and a silver in the 100-meter freestyle. She won two more gold medals as a member of the winning U.S. teams in the women's 4×100-meter freestyle relay and 4x100-meter medley relay. Both U.S. relay teams set new world records in their respective events.

Von Saltza later attended Stanford University, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Asian history.