Katie Hoff, Athlete of the Week Award

Katie Hoff is in the news today as she broke American and world records over the weekend at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Missouri. She won the 100, 200, 400 and 400 individual medley. She also broke Janet Evans’ 17 year old record in the 400 by a second and a half, with a time of 4:02.20. With these wins, USA Today has given her the Athlete of the Week award.

As a biography, Katie Hoff was born on June 3, 1989 in Standford, California. She is 18 years old. She trained at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club with six time gold medal Olympic champion Michael Phelps. Katie did compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics as the youngest one on the swim team, but unfortunately did not place in any events.

In 2005, she was a three time gold medalist at the World Championships and was named the USA Swimming Female Athlete of the Year. She also won two gold medals in the 2005 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. In 2006, Katie won two gold and one silver at the 2006 U.S. Nationals, and in the same year got first place in the 200 Free, 400 IM and 800 Free Relay at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

2007 was an awesome year for Katie. She won gold in the 200, 400 (she also set a world record in this event), and 4×200 Freestyle at the World Championships in Melbourne.