Julia Wilkinson

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Julia Rose Wilkinson (born June 12, 1987 in Stratford, Ontario) is a Canadian backstroke, medley, and freestyle swimmer. At the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials, she broke the Canadian national record in the women's 100 m backstroke with her time of 1:01.41, automatically qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Erin Gammel previously held the record with her 1:01.93 time set in 2005.^[1] At the 2008 Mel Zajac, Jr. International swim meet in Vancouver, British Columbia, she broke the Canadian record for the 50 m backstroke with her time of 28.63.^[2] The record was previously held by Jennifer Carroll, who set it in the 2003 World Championships.^[3]

Wilkinson is qualified to compete in the 100 m back, 200 m free, 200 m individual medley, the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 free, and the 4 x 100 medley relays at the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[4]

Wilkinson currently attends Texas A&M University, where she is majoring in communication and is a member of the women's swimming and diving team.^[5]^[6] In 2008, she was named the Big 12 Women's Swimmer of the Year.^[7]

Wilkinson is currently in a relationship with fellow Aggie swimmer Terry Paul Ozenghar Gardner, who goes by the nickname "Ozzie." Gardner is a Texas A&M swimming standout himself who holds four school records.^[8]