Swimming With Heart – Olympic Gold Medalist Dana Vollmer

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Dana Vollmer, from Grandbury, Texas, is a USA Olympian. She is also a heart disease survivor. Vollmer is a member of the US women’s swim team. She went to London with aspirations of winning the gold again. She’s done just that.

Yesterday, Vollmer swam her way to a new women’s world record in the 100-meter butterfly.

In the 2004 Olympic Games, Vollmer won the gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle. Outside of swimming, Vollmer’s aspiration is to become a cardiothorasic surgeon.  At age 12, she was the youngest competitor at the 2000 Olympic Trials and took fifth in the 100m fly at 2003 Spring Nationals, just 11 days after a minor heart surgery.  Her personal experiences fuel her desire for a career in medicine.

As a high school swimmer, Vollmer was diagnosed with symptoms of Long QT Syndrome. Long QT syndrome can cause fainting, cardiac arrest and even sudden death. While her diagnosis was serious, she refused to let it stop her from getting back into the water. She was convinced her heart condition wouldn’t keep her from pursuing her swimming dreams.

Most doctors would say I could never do athletics ever again,  however my family decided to allow me to swim as long as I kept a Defibrillator by my side. At 16, I won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.

Dana Vollmer is now an ambassador for the American Heart Association. Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. The American Heart Association and volunteers like Vollmer are dedicated to educating Americans about heart disease and living a heart healthy lifestyle.

Follow @danavollmer  on Twitter
Like Dana Vollmer on Facebook
Visit Dana Vollmer’s Official Website

Follow @American_Heart on Twitter
Visit the American Heart Association online
Like the American Heart Association on Facebook

and https://www.facebook.com/AmericanHeart#!/danavollmer