Kathleen Baker
Kathleen Baker is a Winston-Salem native who made her Olympic Games debut in 2016. In Rio de Janeiro, she earned a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke and a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay for Team USA. The 24-year-old was a favorite to return to represent our country in Tokyo, but unfortunately, fate got in the way.
Or rather, a fractured foot prevented her from reaching her max potential during the trials. The former record holder for the 4×100-meter backstroke surprisingly placed fourth in the semifinals, but that wasn’t enough to earn her a spot on the team.