Beth

Kolbe

After giving up her spot on the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Team to begin her studies at Harvard University, Beth Kolbe again qualified for the team and represented the U.S. at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

Kolbe has been an active member of the Harvard Women's Swimming and Diving Team, Seneca Aquatic Club (Tiffin, Ohio) and the U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Team. She graduated with honors from Harvard in 2008 with a degree in health care policy and she began studying at Stanford Law School in the fall of 2009.

Kolbe was injured in May of 2000 in a car accident and started swimming as part of her physical therapy. At Harvard, in addition to her involvement in swimming, Kolbe directed and volunteered in a weekly public service organization that mentors children with disabilities in the Boston Public Schools. She was a Senate intern in the Washington D.C. and Boston offices.

Major Achievements:

• 2010: First place, 50m backstroke, U.S. Paralympics Spring Swimming Nationals/Can-Ams
• 2009: Bronze medal, 50 m backstroke- World Cup
• 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Swimming - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
• 2008: Bronze medal, 50m backstroke - Paralympic World Cup, Manchester, England
• 2007: Second place, 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle - U.S. Paralympics Open Swimming Championships, College Park, Md.
• 2007: Gold medal, 50m backstroke; two silver medals, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle; bronze medal, 50m freestyle - Parapan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 2005: Bronze medal, 50m backstroke - Paralympic World Cup, Manchester, England
• 2004: Nominated to U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team (unable to attend because of start of freshman year of college)
• Pan American record holder, 100m backstroke
• 13 American Records