Barbara J. Bedford, Class of 1990

“BJ”, as she is affectionately known, is one of the most versatile swimmers in the annals of Peddie swimming. She has world-class times in the backstroke, butterfly and freestyle events.

In 1990, her senior year, she broke the national high school record in the 100-yard-backstroke with a time of 55.63 seconds. Since this was the last record to be set before the new 1991 rules change that permits a “no hands” touch, BJ’s time will be a little bit of swimming history.

That same year, 1990, Barbara was also a member of Peddie’s national record-setting 200 medley relay team, the relay where each member swims a different event.

At the 1990 Open Senior National Champion­ships, she placed third among all US athletes in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly – on the same night. Consider that these events were only 20 minutes apart, and you can appreciate what a feat this was!

As a freshman at the University of Texas, BJ won her first national collegiate title in the 100-meter breaststroke. She represented the United States in international competition twice and was the World University Games champion again in the 100 meter backstroke. Her winning time of 1.01.99 at Sheffield, England, made her the fourth-fastest American woman ever to swim this event.

Bedford won a gold medal as part of a medley relay in the 2000 Olympic games.