The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 1994
A nine-time All-American who was one of the top individual medley event competitors in program history, Amy Shaw helped power the Longhorns to a pair of NCAA team championships and four consecutive Southwest Conference titles. Prior to arriving in Austin, she was a standout in southern California at Capistrano Valley High School and the Mission Viejo Nadadores. A three-time all-state performer in high school, Shaw claimed the bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the inaugural Goodwill Games in Moscow in 1986. She won the U.S. Outdoor Long Course 200-meter breaststroke crowns in 1986 and 1987, breaking an American record in the 200-meter breaststroke in 1987 with her time of 2:29.78. Shaw went on to win the gold medal for Team USA in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1987 Pan Pacific Games in Brisbane, Australia, with a time of 2:29.58. During her freshman season in 1989-90, she was the SWC individual champion in the 200 and 400 individual medley while also swimming on the winning 800 freestyle relay as the Longhorns claimed the team crown. Shaw capped her first year in Austin as the top individual point scorer for the Longhorns while leading Texas to the national title at the 1990 NCAA Championship. She recorded runner-up finishes in both the 200 and 400 individual medley while setting program records in both events, added a fifth-place result in the 200 breaststroke and helped the Longhorns to a third-place finish in the 800 freestyle relay at the national meet. Despite dealing with injuries down the stretch of her sophomore year in 1990-91, Shaw placed third in the 400 individual medley, fifth in the 200 individual medley and 10th in the 200 breaststroke at the national meet to help Texas win the 1991 NCAA Championship. She later won the gold medal for Team USA in the 400-meter individual medley at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, with a time of 4:50.39. During her junior campaign in 1991-92, Shaw placed fifth in the 400 individual medley and 11th in the 200 individual medley to pace the Longhorns to a runner-up team finish at the 1992 NCAA Championship. As a senior in 1992-93, she swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay at the SWC Championship to help Texas win the conference title. Shaw and the Longhorns earned a third-place result at the 1993 NCAA Championship meet. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Government from The University of Texas in 1994. Amy is married to Patrick Collins, and the couple has a son, Luke Collins. Luke is verbally committed to swim as a freshman at The Ohio State University this fall.