Delia Meulenkamp

Deliana Meulenkamp (July 3, 1933 in Rotterdam, Netherlands – March 13, 2013 in San Francisco, California), also known by her married name Delia Dooling, was a Dutch-born American competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.[1] She competed in the women's 400-meter freestyle, advanced to the semifinals.[1][2] She held four American records during her swimming career.

Deliana Meulenkamp
Meulenkamp with mother in 1952
Personal information
Full nameDeliana Meulenkamp
Nickname(s)"Delia"
National team United States
Born(1933-07-03)July 3, 1933
Rotterdam, Netherlands
DiedMarch 13, 2013(2013-03-13) (aged 79)
San Francisco, California
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubCrystal Plunge

Meulenkamp was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and had a brother Jack.[3][1] She was the beneficiary of a special act of the U.S. Congress signed by President Truman in order to become a U.S. citizen and compete in the Olympics as an American. She became a media sensation at the 1952 Olympics when the good looks of the "copper-haired American swimmer" attracted the attention of newspaper and magazine photographers.[4] She later worked for Pacific Southwest Airlines and served as athletic director of the Metropolitan Club. She married Jack K. Dooling, a San Francisco attorney, and had two boys with him, John and Matthew. She died in San Francisco aged 79.[5]

References
  1. Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Delia Meulenkamp. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  2. Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Swimming at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games, Women's 400 meters Freestyle Semi-Finals. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  3. File:Delia Meulenkamp 1952.jpg
  4. Associated Press, "Picked as 'Queen' of the Olympics," Reading Eagle, p. 30 (July 20, 1952). Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  5. "Deliana Dooling: Death Notice," San Francisco Chronicle (March 19, 2013). Retrieved September 8, 2015.


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