Cohen, Tiffany (1966—)

American distance freestyle swimmer who won the Olympic gold in 1984. Born in Culver City, California, on June 11, 1966; daughter of Shirley and Robert Cohen; graduated University of Texas, 1988.

Tiffany Cohen was ten when she began swimming for California's Culver City Swim Team under Bruce Kocsis. In 1980, at age 14, after winning several junior championships, she joined the Mission Viejo Nadadores, one of America's most prestigious aquatic clubs. Starting in 1981, Cohen won three consecutive 400-meter national outdoor championships and finished second in the 400 and 800 meters against the Soviet Union. In 1982, she won National Indoor titles at 500, 1,000, and 1,650 yards and took a bronze in the 200-meter freestyle championships. In 1983, at the Pan American and Pan Pacific Games, she won the 800 and 1,500 meters at the National Outdoor championships.

The following year, Cohen graduated from high school just in time for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She established Olympic records of 4:7.10 in the 400 meter and 8:24.95 in the 800 meter to win the gold. Earlier that year, she had defeated East Germany's Astrid Strauss in the 200-meter freestyle. After the Olympics, Cohen entered the University of Texas where she won the NCAA titles in the 500 and 1,650-yard freestyles. In the 1985 SWC championships, she outscored all competitors and won the 200 and 500-meter freestyle, as well as the 400-meter individual medley. She then captured the 500, 1,000, and 1,650 yard freestyles at the Los Angeles indoor championships. In the 1,000-yard freestyle, she was clocked at 9:28.32 to set an American record. The following year, 1986, Cohen won the 400- and 800-meter freestyle and the 200-meter butterfly in the 1986 National Outdoor at Santa Clara, California. Tiffany Cohen graduated from the University of Texas in 1988 with a degree in journalism and retired from swimming.

Karin L. Haag , Athens, Georgia