United States
Personal: Julie Swail… Born Dec. 27, 1972 in Anaheim, Calif.… Parents are Jon and Judy Swail… Swail has one sister, Jana… Swail graduated from the University of California – San Diego with a degree in economics while minoring in urban studies and Black American music… Swail received her masters in education, with an emphasis in physical education, from Azusa Pacific University in California… She now works as the women’s water polo coach at the University of California – Irvine… Hobbies include recreational cycling, tennis and going to the beach.
Elite Triathlon Career: Had her best ITU World Cup finish of her career when she placed 10th in 2004 in Mazatlan, Mexico… Qualified for the 2004 world championship team with a fifth-place finish at the Race to Athens ITU international triathlon in Honolulu, Hawaii… Qualified for the 2003 U.S. Pan American Games triathlon team based on her finishes at qualifying races in Clermont, Fla., and Bellingham, Wash., and her world ranking from the International Triathlon Union… Finished in the top 20 of her first ITU World Cup race in June 2003 in Gamagori, Japan.
Athletic Background: Swail was a member of the U.S. women’s Olympic water polo team at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. The team won a silver medal… Was a member of the Olympic Festival Water Polo West Team in 1993-95… Played four years of water polo at UCSD… Two-time national champions… Four-time all-American… Named Outstanding Senior Athlete in 1995… Team captain in 1993-95… Named Triton athlete of the year in 1994… Attended Valencia High School in Placentia, Calif., where she was on the swim team for four years and also played boys varsity water polo for two years.
Amateur Triathlon Career: Did some small, local triathlons in high school…After Sydney, knowing her water polo career was coming to an end, she did triathlon on Catalina Island, off the coast of California… Found success in that and other races and joined Mission Hospital Triathlon team… Decided to go elite after winning the overall age group title at the 2002 ITU Triathlon World Championships in Cancun, Mexico. Also won the overall age group world aquathlon title in Cancun.
