Sharon Stouder Clark, queen of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, passed away on June 23rd.
She won four Olympic medals, including 3 golds, in an era where there were only 8 women’s events in 1964, including the 100 fly, as a part of the American 400 free relay, and as a part of the American 400 medley relay. She also tacked on a silver in the 100 free, losing her only race to Australia’s Dawn Fraser in that 100 free, who was swimming at the tail end of her career.
Stouder probably would have added more hardware had more events been afforded. At non-Olympic meets that year, she twice broke the World Record in the 200 fly, knocking almost three seconds off in the process. She was arguably the first American female swimming star of the modern generation, paving the way for names like Debbie Meyer and Claudia Kolb when the Olympic schedule expanded hugely in 1968.
Stouder was a graduate of Stanford and inductee into both the Stanford (1997) and International Swimming (1972) Halls of Fame. She was honored by the University for her contributions by lighting the Olympic torch in 1984 for the soccer events that took place at Stanford Stadium (north of the primary Games host in Los Angeles).
The family asks to honor Sharon by making donations “In Memory of Sharon Stouder Clark” to the Buck/Cardinal Club Stanford Athletic Department, 641 E. Campus Drive Stanford, Ca. 94305-6150.
Stouder was 64 years old.
Attended Glendora High with Sharon. I did not ‘know’ her personally, but remember how proud our entire school was of her Olympic accomplishments, and putting the quaint little town of Glendora on the map! Because the Olympics are happening right now is why I looked her up, to show my granddaughter that I went to school with an Olympian! So shocked to see that she passed away at such a young age. RIP Sharon.
Sharon lived across the street from us growing up on Sandra Ave. in Arcadia CA. There were 2 other Olympic swimmers onour little dead end (at the time) street. Sharon was the only girl on the street that the boys would ask to come out and play. She was an all around great athlete. One of the boys won the 100 yard dash for 12 year olds in Arcadia. Sharon had a foot race with him one day and she beat him soundly. Sharon had a wonderful personality to go with her athletic prowess. Sorry to learn she passed at a relatively young.
Obviously I’m late in adding my comments, but here there are for anyone who happens upon them. I met Sharon in the fall of 1965 on the Stanford campus. It was late in the day and I asked her if she’d like to go to a party at my fraternity. She said, “Okay,” and off we went and had a nice time. I remember bragging to her about what a great swimmer I was since I was teaching swimming to little kids in a nearby town. She smiled and said nothing in reply. I had no idea who I had been talking to until the next morning when my friend, Luis Niccolao, an Olympic swimmer from Argentina asked me how… Read more »
i am sadened to hear this news. I did not know Sharon well but I trained with her under coach Gambril at Rosemead and Jack Roth Swim clubs- My condolences to her family. She was an amazing athlete..
What a shock!!! Sharon strolled into my bar Fosters Bighorn in Rio Vista, introduced herself with such an incredible amount of humility, to ask if I would like her to help me coach my swim team. Of course, I recognized her name but she was so humble I had to google her picture of her to try to verify her. Let me tell everybody…she was wonderful and made a huge impression on my grandson in helping him with his 100 fly. Over a glass of wine, we entertained ourselves about her “old days”…age group swimming, her mom, her dad, the 64 Olympics, Stanford, and a little of her personal life. Then she quietly disappeared around the middle of May. No… Read more »
I was just reading a plaque dedicated to her at Glendora City Hall,came to my car and googled her,I was saddened to read she has passed.What a huge accomplishment for a teenage girl in that era! I’ll bet she was a wonderful lady. Sad I’ve never heard of her.
I got to know Sharon in 1969, after her swimming career, when she was at Stanford. She was an interesting, multi-dimensional person, curious about movies, literature, fashion and other arts. A terrific person, gone far too soon.
I think Sharon did a 58 100 yard butterfly which was really great in that time period even around 1973 it was about 56 100 yard butterfly. I think I seen her times somewhere.
I remember Sharon from Stanford-in-Britain in 1970. What an athlete. She never lost to anyone, including men, at clay court tennis. She’ll be missed.