Showing dominance, they established a new American record for the medley relay at nationals, though Schuler still would hold few if any individual championships in her early career.

[2] [3] At the Far Western Swim Meet in San Francisco, in late August, 1959, she set a world record of 2:38.1 in the 200-meter butterfly, gaining national attention, and beginning speculation about a possible place on the Olympic team the following year.

Schuler had an easy win, with a .9 second lead over the Dutch swimmer Marianne Heemskerk who took the gold and Australia’s Jan Andrew, who captured the silver.

America's Carolyn Wood, at only 14, was in the lead in the event final at the 70 meter point, but swallowed water and had to stop, removing herself from the competition.

[8] Schuler earned a second gold medal as a member of the first-place United States team in the women's 4×100-meter medley relay, together with teammates Lynn Burke (backstroke), Patty Kempner (breaststroke), and Chris von Saltza (freestyle).