Kelly Kryczka (born July 8, 1961) is a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

competitor in synchronized swimming, world champion and Olympic medalist.

Career

Kelly Kryczka began synchronized swimming at the Calgary Glencoe Club and then moved on to train with the Calgary Aquabelles. She and

Helen Vanderburg Helen Vanderburg (born January 12, 1959) is a former Canadian synchronized swimmer and world champion. Career Vanderburg began synchronized swimming in 1969 at age eleven. From 1971 to 1973, she was a member of junior national championship team ...

earned gold in duet at the 1979 Canadian Aquatic Championships, a gold medal in duet at the

1979 Pan American Games The 1979 Pan American Games (Spanish: ''Juegos Panamericanos de 1979''), officially the VIII Pan American Games were a multi-sport event governed by the Panam Sports Organization, and were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15 ...

in San Juan, and gold at the Federation Internationale De Natation Amateur Cup in 1979. Kryczka won the solo and duet events at the Canadian Aquatic Championships in 1980. After

retired in 1979 Kryczka paired with Sharon Hambrook. They received a gold medal in duet at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships in

Guayaquil , motto = Por Guayaquil Independiente en, For Independent Guayaquil , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Ecuador#South America , pushpin_re ...

, where Kryczka also received a silver medal in solo and a gold medal in the team event. Kryczka won a silver medal in the women's duet with Sharon Hambrook at the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the sec ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, the first year that the sport was recognized by the Olympics.

Honours

Kelly Kryczka was inducted into the

Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame is an honour roll of the top Canadian Olympic athletes, teams, coaches, and builders (officials, administrators, and volunteers). It was established in 1949. Selections are made by a committee appointed by the Cana ...

in 1996, and the

Alberta Sports Hall of Fame The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, dedicated to the preservation and history of sports within the province. It was created in 1957 by the Alberta Amateur Athletic Union (AAAU). The museum ...

in 1980.

Family

Kryczka is the daughter of Alberta politician Karen Kryczka, and the niece of

Joe Kryczka Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

References

External links

Canadian Olympic Hall of FameAlberta Sports Hall of Fame
* 1961 births Living people Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductees Canadian synchronized swimmers Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Olympic medalists in synchronized swimming Olympic silver medalists for Canada Olympic synchronized swimmers for Canada Pan American Games gold medalists for Canada Pan American Games medalists in synchronized swimming Swimmers from Calgary Synchronized swimmers at the 1979 Pan American Games Synchronized swimmers at the 1984 Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships medalists in synchronised swimming Medalists at the 1979 Pan American Games {{Canada-Olympic-medalist-stub