Grace Carlson

Grace Carlson
Grace Carlson is an Oregon-born swimmer studying at Stanford University. Carlson is a freestyle, backstroke and IM swimmer who competed at both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trial competitions. After being put into swimming lessons at 8 years old, Carlson joined club swimming by 10, and by 12 years old she made a 2008 Olympic Trial cut and competed as the youngest qualifier there. She’s currently in her sophomore season as a Cardinal, and is undecided on a major. In her club swimming days she competed for Tualatin Hills Swim Club and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School near Portland. Just prior to committing to Stanford, Carlson moved from Lake Oswego Swim Club where she swam her fastest times in the 100 and 200 backstroke as a 13-year-old. According to collegeswimming.com Carlson was the no. two recruit out of the state of Oregon and one of the top in the country. She didn’t compete in high school swimming during her freshman and sophomore seasons, but she chose to get into the mix for her upperclassmen years.

Stanford University
2013-2014
As a freshman Carlson competed at the 2014 Pac-12 Championships finishing 14th in the 100 backstroke and 19th in the 200 backstroke. She also swam a best time in the 200 IM.

2014-2015
Carlson is currently in her sophomore season at Stanford. She finished sixth in the 200 IM, 14th in the 200 freestyle and 10th in the 200 backstroke. After her Pac-12 performance Carlson was invited to the NCAA Championships. She placed 29th in both the 200 IM and 200 freestyle and she also came in 41st in the 200 backstroke.

National Competition
Carlson was the youngest competitor at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, and she qualified four years later for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. As a student at Woodrow Wilson High School she lettered her junior and senior season, and was voted team MVP both years. She was a two-time All-American, and state champion in three events including: the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle. She also broke Class 5A state records in the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.