Meet Olympic Swimmer Kathleen Hersey

Kathleen Hersey hails from Roswell, Ga., and will be a senior at the University of Texas, where she excels at academics as a public relations major and swimming as a specialist in butterfly and individual medley.

Hersey draws her inspiration from her father, saying, "He is in a wheelchair, yet the most successful person I know.” Check out her impressive list of achievements:

• 2008 Beijing Olympics finalist (200m butterfly)

• 2010 Pan Pacific Championships bronze medalist (200m butterfly)

• 2009 FINA World Championships semifinalist (200m butterfly)

• Seven-time All-American

• Four-time honorable mention All-American

• 11-time Big 12 Champion

• 2010 Academic All-Big 12 (first team)

• 2007, 2009 and 2010 U.S. National Champion, 200m butterfly

• Four-time gold medalist, 2007 Pan American Games

• Holds six individual school records (100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 back, 200 back)

• Co-owns four school relay records (400 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay)

• National independent high school record holder (100 butterfly, 200 IM)