Melanie Klaren
Born Dec. 5, 1992 Melanie Klaren is a backstroke and freestyle specialist from Laguna Niguel, Calif. She’s currently in her senior year at the University of California, Berkeley where she’s an NCAA All-American. She’s represented the U.S. internationally, and was a member of the National Youth Team. Standing 5’9″ Klaren is majoring in History. She enjoys reading and could see herself pursuing a career as a book editor. Similar to her other Cal teammates, Klaren has contributed to blog, “Between the Lanes,” writing about the Cal women’s team and their training trip to Hawaii. She graduated from Aliso Niguel High School in southern California, and Swimming World named her a five-star recruit in the 2011 recruiting class. Klaren swam for widely-recognized coach, Bill Rose, at the Mission Viejo Nadadores – she owned a U.S. Senior National cut in nearly every freestyle distance as well as the backstroke events. Klaren claims that Dana Vollmer is someone she looks up to in swimming – choosing Vollmer’s alma mater may have been an easy decision.
UC Berkeley
2011-2012
As just a freshman Klaren scored at her first NCAA Championships. After having a great Pac 12 meet, Klaren finished 12th in the 100 and 200 backstroke as well as 24th in the 500 freestyle. She earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
2012-2013
Klaren finished in the top nine in all of her individual events at the Pac 12 Championships. She also added the 800 freestyle relay to her Conference agenda, which the the team came in second. At the NCAA Championships she scored in the 100 and 200 backstroke where she finished 13th and 11th. She also swam the 500 freestyle finishing 22nd.
2013-2014
In her junior year Klaren was a top-eight finisher in all three individual events at the Pac 12 Championships. She followed up her impressive performance by earning All-America honors in the backstroke events. She finished sixth in both backstroke races, and also touched 11th in the 500 freestyle. She swam all personal best times at the NCAA meet.
2014-2015
As a senior Klaren is serving as co-captain. At the 2015 Pac 12 Championships Klaren finished fifth in the 500 freestyle, third in the 100 backstroke and third in the 200 backstroke.
International Competition
Klaren was a member of the 2008-2009 U.S. National Junior Team. She was recently named to the 2015 World University Games Team in the 200m backstroke.
At the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Klaren finished 42nd in the 200m backstroke, 46th in the 100m backstroke, 84th in the 200m freestyle, and 90th in the 400m freestyle.