The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2016
Sport: Swimming
Inducted: 2016
A 16-time All-American and a 1988 U.S. Olympian, Andrea Hayes helped the Longhorns to NCAA team titles in three of her four seasons with the Longhorns. Hayes made her presence felt right away, when she helped Texas secure its fourth consecutive NCAA championship as a freshman in 1986-87. She earned All-America honors in all three of her individual events at the 1987 NCAA Championships, placing second in the 200 backstroke, fourth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 400 IM. She helped the Horns win conference titles in the 400 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay that same year. As a sophomore, Hayes was a significant contributor toward the Longhorns' run to their fifth straight NCAA title, as she helped UT to a runner-up finish in the 800 freestyle relay and placed third in the 500 freestyle, 400 IM and the 200 backstroke at the 1988 NCAA Championships. Hayes produced a strong lead-up to the national championships with her Southwest Conference titles in the 200 backstroke and 800 freestyle relay. Hayes parlayed her sterling sophomore season into a berth on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team. She placed sixth in the finals of the 200m backstroke at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. It marked her third major international meet, after she won gold in the 800m freestyle at the 1986 Goodwill Games and silver in the 200m backstroke at the 1987 Pan Pacific Championships. Hayes took on another heavy workload as a junior at the 1989 NCAA Championships, as she placed second in the 1,650 freestyle, third in the 500 freestyle and ninth in the 400 IM. She helped UT take second in the 800 freestyle relay and third in the 400 medley relay at the NCAA Championships. Hayes won the 200 backstroke and helped UT win the 800 freestyle relay at the 1989 SWC Championships. Hayes helped the Longhorns reclaim their standing atop the college swimming world as a senior, leading Texas to its sixth NCAA team title in seven seasons. She wrapped up her career with four more All-America honors, placing second in the 1,650 freestyle, fourth in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 200 backstroke while helping UT take third in the 800 freestyle relay at the 1990 NCAA Championships. Hayes' legacy lives on nearly three decades after her final swim as a Longhorn. She remains on UT's all-time top-10 lists in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle events.
