FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 27, 2012

Bartleson to be inducted into International Hall of Fame INDIANAPOLIS – Nathalie Schneyder Bartleson , who won gold as a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic synchronized swimming team, has been selected for induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame next year.

Bartleson was a seven-time United States Synchronized Swimming All-American and a nine- year member of the U.S. national team. She helped lead the U.S. to gold medals at numerous competitions, including the World Championships (1991, 1994); FINA World Cup (1989, 1991, 1993, 1995); U.S. Nationals (1992); and Pan Pacific Championships (1991). Bartleson also won a solo bronze at the 1995 U.S. Nationals and silver as part of a duet at the 1993 China Open.

Bartleson said she was taken by surprise by the announcement. She was happy to see her former teammate Jill Sudduth Smith be inducted in May, "but I didn't think about something like this for myself. It was completely unexpected. I had a big smile across my face when I heard about it. Nathalie Schneyder Bartleson

"You kind of forget about the glory days, so it feels great to be acknowledged," she said. "It takes many great individuals to make a great team, and I look forward to all of my teammates being acknowledged as well."

Since retiring from the sport after the 1996 , Bartleson has stayed active in synchro by coaching, judging and serving on boards. She has coached all over the world, working as a consultant and choreographer for teams in China, Great Britain and Argentina, and as a coach with the U.S. Junior National Team.

The Walnut Creek native was an assistant coach at Stanford from 1998 to 2000, helping lead the Cardinal to their first collegiate national titles. She also led the Netherlands duet to the 2004 Olympic Games.

Bartleson currently serves as USA Synchro’s Olympic International Vice President. She served as an athlete’s representative from 1987-96, an AEC Olympic International Representative from 1994-96 and was the AEC Secretary from 1992-94.

Bartleson is one of 10 athletes to be formally inducted at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 49th Annual Induction Ceremonies on May 11, 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The other inductees are: swimmers Gary Hall, Jr. (USA ), Pieter van den Hoogenband (The Netherlands), (Ukraine) and Dagmar Hase (); diver Hu Jia (China); water polo player Milivoj Bebic (Yugoslavia, Croatia); open water swimmer Cliff Lumsden (Canada); coach Alberto Castagnetti (); and contributor Peter Montgomery (Australia).

Contact Dax Lowery at [email protected] or 317-287-9403 for more information concerning the 2012 U.S. National Team.

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