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Lynn Vidali

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Lynn Vidali
Personal information
Full nameLynn Marie Vidali
National teamUnited States
Born (1952-05-26) May 26, 1952 (age 72)
San Francisco, California
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight141 lb (64 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke, individual medley
ClubSanta Clara Swim Club
College teamSan Jose State University
CoachCharlie Sava, San Francisco
George Haines (Santa Clara SC)
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City 400 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Munich 200 m medley

Lynn Marie Vidali (born May 26, 1952), also known by her married name Lynn Gautschi, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder.

Born May 26, 1952, in San Francisco, in her early years, she received some training from San Francisco's Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Sava. She would later be coached by Hall of Fame Coach George Haines at the very competitive Santa Clara Swim Club.[1][2]

Olympics

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1968 Mexico City

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As a 16-year-old high school student, Vidali represented the United States at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.[3] She received a silver medal for her second-place performance in the women's 400-meter individual medley (5:22.2), finishing well behind U.S. teammate Claudia Kolb (5:08.5).[4]

1972 Munich

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Four years later, she won a bronze medal in the women's 200-meter individual medley at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany swimming a 2:24.06 and finishing behind Australian Shane Gould and East German Kornelia Ender. Vidali went out strong and swam behind gold medalist Shane Gould who would set a blistering world record time of 2:23.07. Weakening from Gould's early speed, Vidali fell behind on the final lap where she was passed by 13-year-old East German Kornelia Ender, who would take silver.[5]

In Munich, she also competed in the 400-meter individual medley and the 100-meter breaststroke, but finished out of medal contention in both events.[3]

San Jose State swimmer

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Vidali initially attended West Valley College but later enrolled at San Jose State University. At San Jose in 1975-6, she won AIAW titles in the 100 yard Individual Medley.[2]

After her swimming career ended, Vidali later worked as a High School swim coach and physical education teacher for 34 years. After leaving High School coaching, she began giving private swim lessons.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sava's Savy Propelled Cuneo", The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, February 10, 1983, pg. 67
  2. ^ a b c "Olympedia Biography, Lynn Vidali". olympedia.org. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Lynn Vidali. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  4. ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1968 Ciudad de México Summer Games, Women's 400 metres Individual Medley Final. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  5. ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1972 München Summer Games, Women's 200 metres Individual Medley Final. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
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Records
Preceded by Women's 200-meter individual medley
world record-holder
July 22, 1966 – August 21, 1966 		Succeeded by


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