[3] Wichman was born in Detroit, Michigan,[4] but after a move attended Chester Lane Junior High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana where, already a swimmer, she began dreaming of competing in the Olympics.

[1] Though not coached together, five years later in 1975, Snider High would graduate 1976 Montreal Olympic gold medalist Matt Vogel.

In the Spring of '68, she won the 200-yard breaststroke and was second in the 100 at the Pittsburgh Indoor National meet, though she lacked a world record.

[6] While a Junior at Snider High School, in her most noteworthy performance she represented the United States as a 16-year-old at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, having qualified to compete in both breaststroke events.

[3] Wichman received a gold medal for winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke (2:44.4) on October 23, 1968, beating Đurđica Bjedov of Yugoslavia by two seconds, and breaking the old Olympic record by around the same margin.

[13] As a result of a strong Baptist faith, after years of disciplined spending and cautious informed investments, Sharon and her husband David Jones started giving generous donations to a number of organizations, particularly her favorite, a Prison Fellowship.