The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2008
A domineering presence in the middle distance and distance swimming events at just 5-4, Kim Linehan is a former world record-holder and USA record-holder in the 1,500 meter freestyle. She was named to the 1980 and 1984 USA Olympic Teams and also won 17 individual U.S. National Championship titles and held American records in four events: the 1,000 yard, 1,650 yard, 400 meter and 800 meter freestyle events. During her three-year Texas career, Linehan earned six NCAA titles in three different events, claimed 20 All-America honors and one honorable mention All-America honor, and helped Texas to two NCAA Championships in 1981 and 1982. She arrived for her freshman year at UT in 1979-80 as one of the world’s premier distance freestylers, having won bronze medals in the 400 meter and 800 meter freestyles at the 1978 World Championships for Team USA. At the U.S. World Championship Trials, she set the world record in the 400m freestyle (4:07.66). During the 1978 Pan Pacific Championships, Linehan claimed a gold medal (800 meter free) and a silver medal (200 meter free). In 1979 at age 16, she put the international swimming world on notice by setting the 1,500 meter freestyle record in a time of 16:04.49 -- a record which stood for eight years it was broken by Janet Evans in 1987. At the 1979 Pan American Games, Linehan won gold in the 800m freestyle and the silver medal in the 200m free. She earned three NCAA individual titles each year that the Longhorns won the NCAA Championship. In both years, she won back-to-back individual titles in the 200 butterfly, 500 free and 1,650 freestyle. Linehan did not compete her senior season at Texas. She was twice named a USA Olympian, as a member of the 1980 team (which boycotted the Moscow Games) and as a member of the 1984 USA team which competed at the Los Angeles Games. Her times at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 and 800 meter events were faster than the winning times posted during the 1980 Olympic competition. She finished fourth in the 400 meter freestyle at the 1984 Olympic Games. While competing at Texas, Kim also earned international acclaim at the 1981 World University Games and at the 1982 World Championships. At the World University Games, she claimed three gold medals (200 butterfly, 400 and 800 freestyles). At the World Championships, she took home gold in the 800 freestyle. An administrator in a senior citizens health care center, she resides in Peoria, Ill.
