Sue Walsh (1984) - Patterson Medal Winners - University of North Carolina Athletics

Sue Walsh

Induction:
1984
Class:
1984

1984— Sue Walsh: Women's Swimming (Hamburg, N.Y.)
Eleven-time national champion, three-time ACC Swimmer of the Year, and, in 1994, was selected one of 10 greatest female athletes in the first 50 years of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Walsh won 10 individual national championships (four in the 100-yard backstroke, three in the 200-yard backstroke and three in the 50-yard backstroke) and one relay (200-yard medley). She earned 27 All-America honors and won 23 ACC titles (individual and relays). She held the school record for the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke and was the American record holder in the 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard backstroke. Walsh qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team but did not compete due to the U.S. boycott of the Soviet-hosted games. Walsh medaled twice at the 1982 FINA World Championships, finishing second in the 4x100m medley and third in the 100m backstroke. Walsh was a two-time first-team Academic All-America and was inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Walsh set six world records2 in the 45-49 age group at the 2007 United States Masters Swimming National Championships. Walsh worked for more than 30 years at UNC’s Educational Foundation and is married to former Tar Heel QB Scott Stankavage.