Did you know that the first African-American swimmer from the U.S to win a gold medal was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho? Maritza Correia is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Maritza Correia was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is a former Olympic swimmer who represented the United States. She also became the first female African American from the U.S to win an Olympic medal. She attended Tampa Bay Technical School and swam for their team. Correia became the 50-meter freestyle U.S national champion in 1999.
She created a powerful legacy for her family in Puerto Rico and the United States of America. We listed some of her highlights below for you to check out!
- 2004 Olympic silver medalist: 4 × 100 freestyle relay
- First African American female to make the U.S. Olympic swim team
- 2000 NCAA champion: 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter medley relay
- 2001 NCAA champion: 800-yard freestyle relay
- 2002 NCAA champion: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay
- 2003 NCAA champion: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
- 2000-03 27-time All-American
- World record-holder in the 400-yard medley relay SCM at 2000 NCAA Championships
- American, NCAA, U.S. Open record holder: 50-yard freestyle (21.69) in 2002
- American, NCAA, U.S. Open record Holder: 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.74) in 2002
- American, NCAA, U.S. Open record holder: 400-yard freestyle relay (3:13.71) in 2002
- 2001, 2003 two-time world champion in 4 × 100 m freestyle relay
- 2005 World University Games gold medalist: 50-meter freestyle, 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, 4 × 100-meter medley relay, 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay
- 2006 World Championships silver medalist: 100-meter freestyle
- 2007 Pan American Games champion: 4 × 100-meter freestyle relay, 4 × 100-meter medley relay