Katie Olsen
Katie Olsen is a former USA Swimming Junior National Team member and NCAA All-American. After graduating from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Ariz., Olsen chose to swim for Stanford University where she’s studying Mgmt. Science & Engineering. During her career at Desert Vista she juggled her time swimming, going to school and working as a Research Assistant at ASU. She is a breaststroke specialist, but she’s also got a sub-23 second 50 freestyle. She holds Stanford’s fastest 200 breaststroke time in history, and she is also listed in the top three of the 100 breaststroke. Originally from Phoenix, Ariz., Olsen was born to parents, Dwayne and Sue Olsen, and she also has one younger brother named Jack. Olsen was one of the best, if not the best, breaststroke recruit in the class of 2011. She’s pretty athletic considering that Olsen also was a member of Desert Vista’s track and field team, and was team captain of the swimming team her senior year. While competing at Stanford Olsen has capture three Pac-12 titles and her best finish at the NCAA Championships was in 2014 – she finished second in the 200 breaststroke. She’s a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and she’s also apart of the Stanford Alumni Mentoring Leadership Team.
Stanford University
2011-2012
As a freshman Olsen competed at the Pac-12 Championships, where she won the consolation finals of both breaststroke events. She qualified for the NCAA Championships and finished in the top 16, finishing sixth in the 200 medley relay ninth in ninth in the 400 medley relay.
2012-2013
Olsen went best times in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke at the Pac-12 meet, but she qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year. She broke into the ‘B’ final of the 200 breaststroke, finishing 15th.
2013-2014
Olsen had continued success into her junior year. After winning three Pac-12 titles, she advanced the NCAA Championships. She finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke and second in the 200 breaststroke breaking Tara Kirk’s 10-year-old school record. She also joined her Stanford teammates to win the 200 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay.
2014-2015
Olsen is currently in her senior year as a Stanford Cardinal. At the NCAA Championships she won the ‘B’ final of the 100 breaststroke and finished third in the 200 breaststroke. She was a member of the 400 medley relay that set an American and NCAA record.
International Competition
Olsen was the Arizona 5A Swimmer of the Year in 2009 and its state champion in the 100 breaststroke in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She was a member of the U.S. Junoir National Team from 2008-2011 and she swam at the Victorian Championships in Melbourne, Australia. She also was on the U.S. National Youth Team in 2009 and 2010 – competing at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships in Maui.
Olsen qualified for the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.