(March 23, 1939 – January 22, 2019) Although her elite-level career was brief, Maureen Murphy helped propel women’s athletics throughout the state by reaching the 1956 Summer Olympic Games. Maureen grew up in Portland and found her way to the Multnomah Athletic Club swim program, where she began to specialize in the backstroke and eventually grew to 5-foot-10. At age 14 and swimming for Holy Child Academy, she won the state high school title in the 100-yard backstroke, then finished second in the 1954 national indoor finals at 200 meters.

A year later, she lowered the state record in the 100 final by three seconds, then won the national final in the 200 and traveled with a U.S. team as a goodwill ambassador to Europe and the Middle East.

Preparing for the ‘56 Melbourne Games, Maureen finished second in the national 100 finals, then reached the Olympic final, where she placed fifth, missing a medal by less than a second.

He academic career then took over at both Oregon State and Portland State, but her exploits helped girls athletics achieve notice across the state.