[2] She qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics in the 100-meter backstroke, but could not compete because of their United States-led boycott of the Soviet-hosted games.

She graduated from the Mount Mercy Academy and then from the University of North Carolina (1984), with a degree in business administration and accounting.

[4] In 1987 she became an assistant swimming coach and in February 1989 started working at the Educational Foundation, better known as the Rams Club.

In 2007, she set six world records in the 45–49 age group at the 2007 United States Master's Swimming Championships.

They had three children: Sarah and Shelby are swimmers,[3][8] and Shawn plays football.