 Ruiz (left) and Costie in 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tracie Lehuanani Ruiz-Conforto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team |  United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 4, 1963 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.62 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 lb (55 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Synchronised swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Arizona Wildcats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Charlotte Jennings Davis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tracie Lehuanani Ruiz-Conforto (born February 4, 1963) is a three-time Olympic medalist [1] from the United States in synchronised swimming.
Tracie excelled in both the solo and duet routines, winning a total of 41 gold medals during her career at national and international level. [2] In the women's solo event, Ruiz achieved consecutive victories at the 1983 and 1987 Pan American Games, and she was the inaugural champion [3] at the 1984 Summer Olympics. She narrowly missed out on a further gold at the 1988 Summer Olympics, settling for silver after having been beaten by her Canadian rival, Carolyn Waldo. [4] Her domination of the event at the national level resulted in first place at all six US championships between 1981 and 1986.
She enjoyed a successful partnership with fellow American, Candy Costie, [5] which included a silver medal in the women's duet at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships in Guayaquil. Over the next few years, they increased their medal haul, winning gold at both the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Summer Olympics. Their partnership also extended to winning four US national championships and one NCAA national championship. [2]
In June 1985, she married Michael Anthony Conforto, a former Penn State football player who had helped her train for the Olympics. Their son, Michael Conforto, played professional baseball for the New York Mets from 2015-2021 and is currently a member of the San Francisco Giants. Their daughter, Jacqueline, played soccer at Azusa Pacific University. [6]
Tracie Ruiz was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1993. [2]
Synchronized swimming or artistic swimming is a sport where swimmers perform a synchronized choreographed routine, accompanied by music. The sport is governed internationally by World Aquatics. It has traditionally been a women's sport, although FINA introduced a new mixed gender duet competition that included one male swimmer in each duet at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships and European Aquatics introduced men's individual events at the 2022 European Aquatics Championships. From 2024, men are able to compete in the team event at the Olympics.
Carolyn Jane Waldo, is a Canadian former synchronized swimmer and broadcaster.
Michelle Calkins is a former Canadian synchronized swimmer, world champion, and coach.
Michelle A. Cameron-Coulter, is a retired Canadian Olympic synchronized swimmer, and former world champion.
Mary Alice Bradburne is an American former competition swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and television sports commentator. During her international swimming career, Wayte won ten medals in major international championships, including four golds.
Karen Julia Josephson is an American Olympic champion and former competitor in synchronized swimming.
Sarah Gay Josephson is an American Olympic champion and former competitor in synchronized swimming.
Candace (Candy) Costie, now Candace Costie Merrill, is an American competitor and Olympic champion in synchronized swimming.
Sharon Hambrook is a Canadian former world champion and Olympic medalist in synchronized swimming.
Kelly Kryczka is a Canadian competitor in synchronized swimming, world champion and Olympic medalist.
Erin Woodley was a Canadian competitor in synchronized swimming and Olympic medalist.
Lisa Alexander is a Canadian former competitor in synchronised swimming and Olympic medallist.
Rebekah Dyroen-Lancer is an American competitor in synchronised swimming and Olympic champion.
William May is an American synchronized swimmer. Performing primarily in duets, May won several national and international events. May desired to compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics, but then there was not yet a mixed or male category in Synchronized Swimming.
Olga Genrikhovna Sedakova is a former Russian synchronized swimmer who competed at two Olympic Games, won three gold medals in the World Championships, and nine golds at the European Championships. In 2019, she was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Beulah Detwiler Gundling was an American synchronized swimmer, aquatic artist, choreographer and author.
Teresa "Terry" Andersen is a retired American synchronized swimmer who won all three gold medals at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships, in the solo, duet and team routines. This feat was repeated only in 1986 by Carolyn Waldo. Also in 1986, Andersen was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Deborah Muir is a Canadian former synchronized swimmer and coach. She began her career with the Calgary Aquabelles club in 1965 and won silver medals in the synchronized swimming team competitions at both the 1971 Pan American Games and the 1973 World Aquatics Championships. At age 20, Muir retired from competition and began a career in coaching. She coached swimmers of the Calgary Aquabelles to 22 national titles over a decade. She also helped athletes clinch medals in the World Aquatics Championships, the FINA Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games. Muir has won various awards for her coaching career, and is an inductee of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Sylvie Fortier is a Canadian former synchronized swimmer. She won medals in Canadian provincial and national competitions, at the World Aquatics Championships, the Pan American Games and the Pan Pacific Games. Fortier was named the 1976 world champion in synchronized swimming for her achievements that year and was a torch bearer for the opening ceremony of the Montreal Summer Olympics. She retired in 1977 aged just 18. Fortier is an inductee of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Aquatics Hall of Fame.
Ruby Remati is an American synchronized swimmer. She represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal.
|
Synchronized swimming (1984–2016) · Artistic swmming (2020–) | |
|
Synchronized swimming (1955–2015) · Artistic swmming (2019–) | |
|
