Ruiz, Tracie
Synchronized Swimming
b. Feb. 4, 1963, Honolulu, HI
When synchronized swimming became an Olympic sport in 1984, Ruiz was its first gold medalist. In fact, she was a double gold medalist, winning both the solo and, with Candy Costie, the duet competition.
Ruiz also won gold medals in both events at the 1983 Pan-American Games. She was the world solo champion in 1982, when she and Costie finished second in the duet.
After winning her sixth straight national championship in 1986, Ruiz temporarily retired from competition and married trainer Mike Conforto. But she returned the following year to win two gold medals at the Pan-American Games. After winning a silver medal in the solo event at the 1988 Olympics, she retired once more.