Ellyn Baumgardner: Breaststroke
Personal and Youth Swimming:
Ellyn Baumgardner was born December 30, 1990 to parents David and Julie Baumgardner. Baumgardner is one of two children; her younger brother Jacob swims at George Mason University. In high school, Baumgardner swam for Fairfax High School in Virginia, where she earned three Second-Team All-Met honors. Growing up, she also swam for Curl Burke Swim Club and Nation’s Capital Swim Club.
College Swimming:
Baumgardner fell in love with the team, the coaches and the beautiful surroundings and decided to attend the University of Arizona where she majored in Psychology and minored in Sports Management. She graduated from Arizona in 2013.
Her freshman year, Baumgardner qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke. She finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 59.44, earning her All-American honors.
In 2011, Baumgardner earned herself three more All-American honors at the 2011 NCAA Championships. She finished fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a personal best of 59.38. She was also a member of the 200-yard medley relay that finished sixth and the 400-yard medley relay that finished third. Baumgardner also qualified to compete in the 200-yard breaststroke at NCAA’s that year.
Baumgardner’s junior year, she was a member of the second-place 400-yard medley relay at the 2012 NCAA Championships, giving Baumgardner her fifth All-American honor. She was also a preliminary member of Arizona’s 200-yard medley relay that finished second in the finals. Her junior year Baumgardner was also named to the Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team.
In 2013, Baumgardner finished her collegiate career strong at the 2013 NCAA Championships. She was a member of the second-place 400-yard medley relay, splitting a 58.16 on the breaststroke leg. Baumgardner was also a member of the third place 200-yard medley relay at NCAA’s with a 50-yard breaststroke split of 26.63. Individually, Baumgardner finished seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.37. Her performances at NCAA’s that year earned her three more All-American honors, bringing her grand total to eight NCAA medals and eight All-American honors.
National and International Swimming:
Baumgardner qualified for her first US Olympic Trials in 2008 in the 100-meter breaststroke. At the trials, Baumgardner finished 24th with a 1:10.51.
In 2012, Baumgardner qualified for her first US National team. That year, Baumgardner qualified for the 2012 US Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska in the 100-meter breaststroke. Baumgardner finished fourth in finals with a 1:07.19, just missing the team by 1.2 seconds. In that same year, Baumgardner attended her first International competition as part of team USA. Baumgardner competed at the 2012 FINA Short Course World Championships in Instanbul, Turkey. In Turkey, she finished 10th in the 50-meter breaststroke (30.47), and 17th in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:07.10).
Baumgardner wrapped up her swimming career at the 2013 World Championship Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. She placed 12th in the 50-meter breaststroke (32.01) and 19th in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:10.56).
-Originally developed by Elle Meinholz