Full name Pamela Jean Kruse Name Pam Kruse Strokes Freestyle swimming Sport Swimming Weight 59 kg | National team United States Height 1.65 m Nickname(s) "Pam" Role Olympian | |
Born June 3, 1950 (age 73) ( 1950-06-03 ) Miami, Florida Club Fort Lauderdale Swim Association College team Michigan State University Olympic medals Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metre freestyle | ||
Pamela Jean Kruse (born June 3, 1950) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in two events.
Kruse represented the United States as an 18-year-old at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where she competed in two freestyle events. She received a silver medal for her second-place performance in the women's 800-meter freestyle (9:35.7), finishing behind American teammate Debbie Meyer (9:24.0). She also swam in the women's 400-meter freestyle and placed fourth in the event final, and recorded a time of 4:37.2.
After the Olympics, Kruse attended Michigan State University with fellow Olympian Linda Gustavson, where the two swimmers joined Kappa Alpha Theta sorority together. She swam for the Michigan State Spartans swimming and diving team in Big Ten Conference competition, and she won conference championships in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, and the 400-yard freestyle relay in 1971. She graduated from Michigan State with her bachelor's degree in 1973, master's in 1975, and Ph.D. in 1979.