Erin Popovich

Sport: Swimming
Residence: Butte, MT

In 2004 Paralympic swimmer Erin Popovich was voted runner-up for the 2004 United States Olympic Committee Sportswoman of the Year Award and the 2004 USOC Paralympic Athlete of the year.

Popovich’s was born with achondroplasia, a genetic disorder of bone growth that is evident at birth. It is the most common of a group of growth disability characterized by abnormal body proportions — individuals have arms and legs that are very short, while the torso is nearly normal size. But one look at her record achievements tells you that her disability has posed no limits to her success.

Erin began swimming competitively in 1998 and two years later she won three gold medals, three silver medals and broke four world records at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She was named the Female Athlete of the Month in April and September by the United States Olympic Committee.

Popovich, a two-time Paralympian, won seven gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. She won five individual titles (200m IM, 100m free, 100m breast, 50m fly and 50m free) and two relay medals (4x100m free relay and 4x100m medley relay). Additionally, she set five new Pan-American records in each of the individual events; set Paralympic records in the 50m free, 100m free, 50m fly and 200m IM, set World records in the 50m free, 50m fly and 200m IM and finally she set new American records in both relay events.

In 2005 Erin was nominated for, and won, an ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete with a Disability. She also was named the 2005 Women's Sports Foundation Individual Sportswoman of the Year.

At the 2006 World Championships in Durban, South Africa, Erin continued her domination in the sport by winning six gold medals, two silver medals and set two World records and seven American Records.

Erin recently graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science and continues her training for the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

Erin’s attitude and accomplishments exemplify the message of The Hartford, founding sponsor of U.S. Paralympics®: The sky’s the limit when we focus on what an individual’s abilities, instead of on his or her perceived physical limitations.