Gail Emery is an American former swimming coach.

Biography

Emery born in 1951 in Lafayette, California.[1] She is a graduate of California State University-Hayward.[2]

Emery was introduced to synchronized swimming in 1959 by her mother, Sue Alf.[3] She initially trained with the Solfettes in Walnut Creek, California, before joining the Howell Swim Club in Danville. Later, the Santa Clara Aquamaids.[4] With the Aquamaids, she won a national team championship in 1972 and was part of a demonstration team at the Munich Olympics in the same year.[5]

Emery started coaching the Walnut Creek Aquanuts, founded by her mother, in 1972.[6] In 1980, the Aquanuts defeated the Santa Clara Aquamaids, marking the start of a decade-long run of national championships.[7]

In 1979, Emery was appointed as the national team's coach, a role she held through four Olympic cycles.[8][9] She was the head coach for the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympics, and a coach/manager in 1984.[10][11] Athletes coached by Emery, including the Josephson duet and Kristen Babb-Sprague, achieved Olympic medals, with Babb-Sprague winning a solo gold in 1992 and the Josephson pair earning a silver in 1988 and a gold in 1992.[12] In the 1996 Olympics, five of Emery's athletes were part of the team that won a gold medal.[13]

Emery coached the U.S. team in international competitions at the World Championships from 1982 to 1998, during which her teams won seven gold medals.[14] In FINA World Cup competitions, her teams won 25 gold and four silver medals. Her athletes also won various years of gold medals in the Pan American Games.[15]

Under Emery's tenure, synchronized swimming evolved in technical and athletic aspects. She implemented new training methods and cross-training regimens.[16] Notable athletes coached by Emery include Karen and Sarah Josephson, Kristen Babb-Sprague, among others.[17][18]

In 1998, Emery became the coach of Stanford University's synchronized swimming program, winning the NCAA National Championship.[19] She left Stanford in 2001.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  2. ↑ "washingtonpost.com: Gail Emery". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  3. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  4. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  5. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  6. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  7. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  8. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  9. ↑ "washingtonpost.com: Gail Emery". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  10. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  11. ↑ "washingtonpost.com: Gail Emery". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  12. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  13. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  14. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  15. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  16. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  17. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  18. ↑ "Gail Emery helped transform synchronized swimming". 25 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Gail Emery".
  20. ↑ "Gail Emery Resigns as Synchronized Swimming Coach".
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