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322:, and learned to swim by taking classes at the local YMCA at the age of four. By the age of six, she had competed in her first race for the Lompoc Marlins. In 1970, Pipes moved to Chula Vista, CA a city south of San Diego and swam for the Chula Vista Aquatic Association (CVAA). At the age of 12, Pipes changed teams and joined the Coronado Navy Swim Association to be coached by two-time
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In 2002, Pipes set 25 FINA World records, 54 National records, achieved 6 lifetime best times and became the first woman over forty years old to complete the 500-yard freestyle event in less than five minutes with a time of 4:58.98. Stunningly, this time was quicker than the record of 4:59.08, which
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competitions. After six months of sobriety, Pipes established a new FINA world record in the 200-meter backstroke. By the end of her first year of
Masters competition, she ranked first in the U.S. in seven events and added three more world records to her cache. In 1995, she set a total of 16 FINA
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As of
December, 2020, Pipes has set 229 FINA Masters records with 25 still standing, and 354 U.S. Masters Swimming national records, of which 64 are still current. She also owns six long-distance records and is a 20-time USMS All-Star achieved by earning the most #1 rankings in an age-group in a
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By the age of 19, her party lifestyle, "poor work ethic" and "lack of discipline" caused her to forfeit her scholarship at
Arkansas after three semesters. Pipes describes the next chapter of her life as the "lost years" when her addictive tendencies took over and her life began to spiral out of
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record until 2001. In addition, she won three individual NCAA Division II titles in the 100-yard backstroke, 200 and 400-yard medley. Her time in 400-medley was eight seconds faster than the time she posted at age 15 to win the
National Junior Olympics. Pipes was awarded Division II
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377:. Over the next two years she held a 4.0 GPA, broke every women's school record but one, set 4 National and 5 State Community College records and was twice named the Pacific Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year. In 1997, Pipes accepted a full athletic scholarship to attend
332:. At the age of 15, Pipes won the 400-yard individual medley at the National Junior Olympic Swimming Championships and as a result was invited to attend the first-ever Junior Development camp at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. She graduated from
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newspaper and SWIMMER Magazine. In 2015, along with contributing author Tito
Morales, she wrote "The Do-Over: My Journey from the Depths of Addiction to World Champion Swimmer,” an autobiography about her struggles and victories over addiction.
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Masters world records in all four strokes, as well as in the medley and at every distance offered. Pipes's records stand the test of time and currently span six age-groups reaching back over twenty five years. She also competed at four
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In 1995, she married Eric
Neilsen, a former water-polo-player turned triathlete who would serve as her swim coach for the next fourteen years. After their wedding ceremony, more than 100 guests swam a half-mile Open water race in the
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starting with
Montreal, Canada in 1994. Stanford in Palo Alto, CA in 2006, Perth, Australia in 2008, and Riccione, Italy in 2012 winning all twenty events she entered.
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year. After over three decades of swimming in the US Masters category, Pipes has become one of the most decorated swimmers in the history of the sport. "
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control. For the next 11 years Pipes dropped out of college six times and had many seasonal jobs. On April 16, 1993, at the age of 31, Pipes entered a
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honors in eight separate events over her collegiate career. After her college eligibility expired, at the age of 36, Karlyn became a
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while wearing celebratory custom swim caps that said "Eric and Karlyn's
Wedding and Rough Water Swim." The couple divorced in 2009.
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she is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the sport and was inducted into the
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2009, 2008, 2007 & 2004 World
Masters Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine
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San Diego Hall of
Champions Amateur Star of the Month 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 & 2002
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611 time USMS All-American achieved by earning #1 national ranking in an event
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Masters world records for the 30–34 age group, competing against many former
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record, with a time 2:00.54 in the 200-yard backstroke, which remained the
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Currently holds 25 FINA Masters World and 64 U.S. Masters National records
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As a writer, Pipes penned a monthly column entitled "The Pool's Edge" for
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earning prize money at competitions swimming against women half her age.
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In 1995, she restarted her collegiate swimming career by competing for
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Voted Top Ten Masters swimmer of All-Time by Swimming World Magazine
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614:"Victory over Addiction, Swimming Success, and Stories of Coronado"
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International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame inductee class of 2007
642:"International Swimming Hall of Fame Announces the Class of 2015"
628:"Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, 40, Cracks 5 Minutes for the 500 yd. Free"
462:, inspirational speaker and swim technique expert. She lives in
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magazine from 2007 to 2012, and has been a contributor to the
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California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Roadrunners
572:"Swimming Straight for Inclusion | Lavender Magazine"
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List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
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International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee class of 2015
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in 1980. Pipes was offered 15 full-ride scholarships to
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in 2015, and the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame in 2018.
466:. She owns Aquatic Edge, a mobile service that offers
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Pipes is currently a competitive swimmer as well as a
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Female USMS Swimmer of the Year 1997, 2002 & 2003
507:Has broken 229 FINA Masters world records to date
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600:"Karlyn Pipes Inducted into ISHOF Class of 2015"
470:swim technique workshops worldwide, as well as
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53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
495:Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame class of 2018
510:354 U.S. Masters national records to date
171:Learn how and when to remove this message
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355:ten-day alcohol and drug rehabilitation
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474:and Aloha Swim Camps in Kona, Hawaii.
698:"International Swimming Hall of Fame"
684:"International Swimming Hall of Fame"
656:"International Swimming Hall of Fame"
558:"International Swimming Hall of Fame"
747:American women motivational speakers
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308:International Swimming Hall of Fame
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340:schools and accepted one from the
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34:This article has multiple issues.
586:"Superstar Karlyn Pipes-Neilson"
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294:(born March 18, 1962), formerly
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670:"Karlyn a Pipes - USMS Swimmer"
42:or discuss these issues on the
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375:Palomar Junior College
342:University of Arkansas
304:Masters-level swimming
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379:Cal State Bakersfield
363:U.S. Masters Swimming
712:"Aquatic Edge - Bio"
644:. December 17, 2014.
616:. December 20, 2015.
396:professional athlete
334:Coronado High School
296:Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen
193:Personal information
95:improve this article
434:and their families
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99:independent sources
630:. October 8, 2002.
574:. August 28, 2008.
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732:1962 births
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357:program at
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460:triathlete
314:Early life
246:Backstroke
204:1962-03-18
39:improve it
368:Olympians
330:Mike Troy
254:freestyle
250:butterfly
146:talk page
45:talk page
532:See also
232:Swimming
97:and add
446:in 2011
324:Olympic
242:Strokes
490:Awards
348:Career
217:, U.S.
144:. The
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302:. In
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223:Sport
407:FINA
383:NCAA
268:Club
198:Born
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