Kara Lynn Joyce

Kara Lynn Joyce is a female American swimmer who has competed in two Olympics, the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On both occasions, she won Silver Medals in the 4×100m freestyle and the 4×100m medley relay, as part of the U.S. Relay Team.

Joyce competed in the 2007 World Championships - Long Course, held in Melbourne, where she won her second major Gold Medal for the 4×200m freestyle. She also won a Silver Medal for the 4×100m freestyle event.

She competed and won a Bronze Medal for the 4×100m freestyle event during the 2005 World Championships - Long Course, held in Montreal.

Joyce competed in the 2004 World Championships - Short Course, held in Indianapolis, where she won a Gold Medal as part of the U.S. Team in the 4×100m freestyle event. She also won a Silver Medal for the 4×100m medley relay.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kara Lynn split her high school years between Webster, New York and Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the family relocated to in 2001. It was in Ann Arbor that Kara Lynn began training with Club Wolverine under Jon Urbanchek. Kara Lynn also chose to compete for her high school team, the Ann Arbor Pioneers. In her senior year of high school, she set five Michigan High School State records, four of which were National High School records at the time. (Her state records are in the 50 m, 100 m and 200 m freestyle as well as the 200 m and 400 m freestyle relays. While only able to swim a total of 4 events, Kara Lynn set the 50 m freestyle record by leading-off the 200 m freestyle relay.)

After a successful prep career in which she broke a total of 5 National High School records, she headed south to swim for Jack Bauerle at the University of Georgia (UGA). During her freshman campaign, Kara Lynn won 5 NCAA titles including two individual titles (50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle), helping Georgia to its third consecutive runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Joyce along with junior Mary DeScenza led Georgia to its first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship in 4 years by defending her individual titles in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle as well as adding a 4th place in the 200 m freestyle. Joyce was also a key swimmer on four of Georgia's five NCAA Championship relays. En route to their victory, Georgia became the first team in NCAA swimming history to win all five relays.

During the 2006 NCAA Championships, contested at UGA's Gabrielsen Natatorium, Kara Lynn led the Bulldogs to a second place finish with five NCAA titles and Swimmer of the Year honors. On the first day of the meet, Kara Lynn broke the American Record in the 50 m freestyle (scy), previously held by former Bulldog Maritza Correia. Kara Lynn defended her 100 m freestyle title and added to that with a win in the 200 m freestyle. By winning all three, Kara Lynn became the first swimmer in the 25 year history of the Women's NCAA Championship Meet to win the 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m freestyle events.

In the 7th FINA World Championships - 25 m in Indianapolis 2004, Kara Lynn Joyce received a gold medal competing in 4×100 m freestyle relay and a silver medal and the 4×100 m medley relay.

In the 11th FINA World Championships - 50 m in Montreal 2005, Kara Lynn Joyce received a bronze medal competing in 4×100 m freestyle relay.

In the 2006 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships in Irvine California, Kara Lynn won the 50 m freestyle in a time of 24.97. This gold medal earned her a spot on the 2006 USA Pan-Pacific team and the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Aus.

Kara Lynn Joyce holds three American records as part of the US National Team. These include the short course (25 m) 400 m freestyle relay and 400 m medley relay teams and the long course (50 m) 400 m freestyle relay. Kara Lynn also holds the American Record as a member of the University of Georgia in the short course 200 m freestyle relay.