Della Sehorn (May 28, 1927 – March 14, 2001) was among the nation’s best in the breaststroke from 1950-53 and a member of the U.S. team at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics.
Born in Beaverton, Idella Thrasher (as she was known in her youth) developed her skills through the Columbia Athletic Club and set 18 American records before and after the 1952 Olympics. At age 25, she was the oldest member of the U.S. swim team but did not reach the Olympic final in the 200 breaststroke.
Upon her return, Della was honored with the Bill Hayward Award as the state’s top amateur athlete, becoming the first woman to win the award. In 1953, she set three American records on the same day but retired shortly thereafter to coach. A devoted photgrapher, she kept massive scrapbooks from her travels to events.
Della married her club coach, Al Sehorn, and they moved to Los Altos, CA, where she continued to coach. She returned to competitive swimming in Masters events when the program began in 1970. She was Swimmer of the Year for the Los Altos Masters Swim Team in 1992 after anchoring a 200-meter freestyle mixed (men and women) relay team to first at the World Masters Championships. She swam the lead leg of the 200-medley mixed relay team, which placed second. Della Sehorn swam every day until 1999, over 50 years in the pool.
Her grandson, A.J. Sehorn and great-grandsons Mason and Gunnar all became competitive surfers.