Tara Kirk (born July 12, 1982 in Bremerton,
Washington) is an Olympic swimmer in the United
States. She set the world short course meters record
in the 100 meter breaststroke, winning the event at
the 2004 Women's NCAA Championships swimming for
Stanford University. In the 2004 Summer Olympics in
Athens, Tara won a silver medal swimming in the
pre-lim heats of the 400 Medley Relay.
Kirk still holds the American Record in the 100-yard
and 200-yard Breaststrokes, set in 2006, as well as
the American Record in the 50 short-course meter
breaststroke (30.29). Kirk is the only woman to swim
the 100-yard breaststroke in under 58 seconds
(57.77). It is worth noting that the next fastest
person in the history of this event is Megan
Jendrick who posted a time of 58.87. Kirk previously
held the 100 short-course meter breaststroke world
record at 1:04.79 but this was beaten by Leisel
Jones on August 28, 2006. Kirk was named the
"Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year" and took home
the Honda-Broderick Cup for 2003-2004. She was also
a recipient of the NCAA Top Eight Award as a member
of the Class of 2005.
Tara Kirk's younger sister, Dana Kirk, joined her on
the 2004 USA Women's Olympic Swimming team, becoming
the first set of sisters to swim on the same US
Olympic Team.
