Susan Doerr
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United StatesBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
 Doerr in 1961 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Susan Elizabeth Doerr |
| Nickname(s) | "Susie," "Sue" |
| National team | United States |
| Born | January 13, 1945 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 18, 1972 (aged 27) New York City, New York |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 110 lb (50 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | Freestyle, butterfly |
| Club | Vesper Boat Club |
| College team | Chatham College U. of Pennsylvania Beaver College |
| Coach | Mary Freeman Kelly |
Susan Elizabeth Doerr (January 13, 1945 – February 18, 1972) was an American former competition swimmer, 1960 Olympic competitor, and a 1961 world record-holder in the 100-meter butterfly.
Susan was born to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Doerr Jr. in Brwyn Mawr, Pennsylvania on January 13, 1945.[1]
She began her career in age group swimming in Philadelphia. She competed in her first United States Women's National Championships in the spring of 1959, representing Vesper Boat Club where she was managed by Hall of Fame Coach Mary Freeman Kelly. She went on to be a leading member of Vesper when they clinched their first high point award at the 1961 United States Women's National Championships; the same year, Doerr set a world record in the 100 m butterfly.[2]
1960 Olympic 4x100-meter relay
She represented the United States as a 15-year-old at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where she swam the butterfly leg for the gold medal-winning U.S. team in the preliminary round of the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.[3] She did not receive a medal at the time, because only relay swimmers who competed in the event final were eligible under the 1960 Olympic rules.
100-meter butterfly world record, 1961
In one of the high points of her swimming career, in August 1961 she set an American and world record in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:08.2.[4]
She continued to compete as a swimmer after the Olympics, representing the Vesper Boat Club, at the National AAU Women's Outdoor Championships into August 1962, swimming a 1:09.4 in her signature event, the 100-meter butterfly but taking fourth in a highly competitive field, where the winner, Mary Stewart set a new world record. Susan's time was only 1.2 seconds off her 1961 World Record. She swam in another of her signature events at the Nationals, the 4x100 meter freestyle and set a new National record of 4:14.8.[4]
Continuing to swim against a highly competitive field, she recorded a 1:09.5 for the 100-meter butterfly at the National AAU Senior Women's Swimming Championships in mid-August 1963, but took a fifth place in the event.[5]
