Karlyn Pipes

Karlyn Pipes is an internationally known inspirational speaker and the author of The Do-Over, a memoir about her struggles and victories with addiction. Karlyn also owns and operates Aquatic Edge (www.aquaticedge.org) with the goal of teaching swimmers and triathletes how to swim faster with less effort by offering swim technique workshops worldwide, and private swim instruction and camps in Kona, Hawaii.

In June of 2015, Karlyn reached the pinnacle of her swimming career when at the age of 53 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) joining all-time swimming greats such as Janet Evans, Mark Spitz and Johnny Weissmuller in this prestigious recognition. Only twelve people per year are inducted and are selected from all of the aquatic sports including swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, open water, coaching and pioneer contributors. Since its inception, only 14 Masters swimmers have been honored.

Karlyn grew up in Chula Vista, CA and as a youth was coached by two-time Olympic gold medalist Mike Troy and swam with the Coronado Navy Swim Association. Karlyn was a standout swimmer winning the National Junior Olympics at the age of 15. Based on her speed, talent and ability, she was on a fast track to swimming stardom with the possibility of making an Olympic team.

Karlyn graduated from Coronado High School in 1980 and accepted a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Arkansas. By 1982 due to poor grades she lost the scholarship and returned to Coronado where for the next 11 years she established a pattern of being hired and fired from waitressing, bar tending and lifeguarding jobs and dropped out of college numerous times.

In 1993 at the age of 31, Karlyn found the courage to turn her life around and returned to the source that created so much pleasure and pain in her life...the water. The rest is aquatic history. To date, Karlyn has established over 200 FINA Masters World, 332 U.S. Masters national records and was voted as one of the Top-Ten masters swimmers of all-time by Swimming World Magazine in 2012. http://www.usms.org/comp/poolrecords.php?ri=i&SwimmerID=02BPY

Karlyn has broken FINA Masters world records in all four strokes, the medley and in every distance. Her records stand the test of time and span over twenty years and four age groups. Karlyn also is the oldest person to set and hold an NCAA DIVII record when at the age of 35 she accepted a full athletic scholarship to attend California State University Bakersfield (CSUB). At the championships meet she won three individual national titles (100 and 200 backstroke, 400 medley) and set an NCAA DIVII record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.54. While at CSUB, Karlyn made the Dean's list every quarter and graduated in Cum Laude with a degree in Communications and Public Relations in 1999.

After Bakersfield, Karlyn returned to San Diego and from 1999-2003 worked for Girl Scouts San Diego developing innovative sports programs for a membership of over 32,000 girls and leaders.

Karlyn is professional speaker that offers both inspirational and technical talks, and is a three-time presenter at the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) World Clinic. As a writer, from 2007-2012 Karlyn penned a monthly column entitled The Pool's Edge in Swimming World Magazine, has been a contributor to SWIMMER Magazine and West Hawaii Today newspaper.

Karlyn's swimming technique is so efficient that Go Swim Productions created two instructional videos using her as the model. Go Swim Freestyle and Go Swim All-Strokes with Karlyn Pipes is available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Go+swim+video+karlyn+pipes

When not traveling, teaching and speaking, Karlyn lives in Kona, Hawaii and trains with the Kona Dolphin (youth) swim team. To contact Karlyn, email karlynpipes@gmail.com