Aug. 29, 2011

• UW Athletics Hall of Fame

Every day this week leading up to the induction ceremony, one of the seven members of the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2011 will be celebrated.

The Hall of Fame induction is Friday, Sept. 2 outside the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center. The 6 p.m. ceremony is open to the public. Today's celebrant is former Wisconsin women's swimmer Carly Piper.

The only Olympic gold medalist in Wisconsin swimming history, Carly Piper set a world record in the 800-meter freestyle relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Her world record stood for two years until it was bested in 2006.

Piper entered the 2004 Olympic Games having won gold in the 800-meter freestyle relay at the 2003 Pan American Games.

A four-year swimmer at UW, Piper was an 18-time All-American earning 10 individual and eight relay titles. She was also a 13-time Big Ten champion with ten individual and three relay titles. Her performances garnered her two Big Ten Swimmer of the Year honors in 2003 and 2005. She was also a nominee for the Big Ten Athlete of the Year award in 2005.

She set numerous records in her four years as a Badger, some of which still stand today. Piper currently holds the best UW times in the 500-yard freestyle, 1000-yard freestyle, 1650-yard freestyle and the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Piper graduated from the UW in 2006 with a degree in Zoology. She is currently a physical therapy technician and resides in Knoxville, Tenn.