Coughlin is the all-time record holder for most Olympic medals (12) among American women (tied with J. Thompson & D. Torres). Only three athletes have won more than 13 career Olympic medals; M. Phelps (22), L. Latynia(18), N. Andrianov(15). She was the most decorated female athlete of the 2008 Beijing Games (6 medals) as well as the most decorated female athlete of the 2004 Athens Games (5 medals). She is the most decorated female swimmer in World Championships history (20 medals) and the most successful American female at a single Olympic Games. She was the first woman in Olympic history to win back-to-back gold medals in 100m backstroke and has captured an Olympic medal in every event she’s entered (2004, 2008, 2012)
Natalie Coughlin was an avid believer in maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, Coughlin enjoys spending time in the kitchen preparing meals that complement her lifestyle. With recipes from her family’s kitchen and world travels, Coughlin created a cookbook, Cook to Thrive: Recipes to Fuel Body and Soul, sharing some of her favorite dishes. A newly minted vintner, Coughlin co-founded GaderianWines, producing her first vintage for sale in 2017. Her business efforts continue as she champions the role of Chief Aspirer for tech startup Aspiricx, working to develop technology to create a model for the ideal swimming stroke.
Nicknamed the “Golden Girl”, Coughlin Captured mainstream appeal with her engaging personality and athletic abilities on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars//Has prepared some of her favorite recipes on the Today Show and Rachel Ray. She served as a guest judge on the season premiere of Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event and was featured in the 2012 SI Swimsuit Issue. She released an autobiography, Golden Girl, following her dominating performance in Athens and is a highly sought-after motivational and inspirational speaker.
As one of the most accomplished Olympic athletes of all time, Coughlin’s media portfolio includes Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, CNN, ESPN The Magazine, Glamour, Good Morning America, LA Times, Men’s Vogue, New York Times, NPR, Runners World, San Francisco Chronicle, Sports Illustrated, Today Show, USA Today, USA Weekend, Vogue, People, SELF, and Buzzfeed, among others.
Coughlin is also a ZeroHunger Ambassador for World Food Program USA and an ambassador for Right to Play. She traveled to Rwanda for a field visit and participated in their “Hearts of Gold” program around the Beijing Games that donated more than $85,000 to children around the world. She’s a Charter Member of USADA’s “Project Believe” campaign, voluntarily participating in extra blood tests in an effort to speak out in support of clean competition. She also supports the Edible Schoolyard, DAM-Cancer Foundation, and is a long-time board member of the PoohStrongFoundation.
Armed with an engaging personality and inviting smile, Coughlin has an eye for both sides of the camera lens. TV hosting experience includes assignments with NBC, Access Hollywood, and MSNBC. She posses a passion for photography and has been known to capture stories of her world travels through her camera, and has served as an official photographer of the Cal-Berkeley athletic department.
Natalie Coughlin is a two-time Women’s Sports Foundation “Female Athlete of the Year” nominee, five-time ESPY Award nominee including “Best Female Athlete,” “Best Olympic Performance,” and “Best Performance by a Female Athlete”, the 2003 Women’s Sports Foundation “Individual Sportswoman of the Year”, a three-time NCAA “Swimmer of the Year”, and a three-time Finalist for the AAU James E Sullivan Memorial Award in honor of the nation’s top amateur athlete.
Inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.