Kara Lynn Joyce

About Kara Lynn Joyce

Kara Lynn Joyce (born October 25, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American swimmer. She competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle races, as well as winning a pair of silver medals in the 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay and the 4 x 100 m Medley Relay.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kara Lynn split her high school years between Rochester, 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, 100 and 200 free as well as the 200 and 400 free relays. While only able to swim a total of 4 events, Kara Lynn set the 50 free record by leading-off the 200 free 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 2 individual titles (50m Free, 100m Free), helping Georgia to its 3rd 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 and 100 Free as well as adding a 4th place in the 200 Free. Joyce was also a key swimmer on 4 of Georgia's 5 NCAA Championship relays. En route to their victory, Georgia became the first team in NCAA swimming history to win all 5 relays.