Kara Lynn Joyce

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Medal record
Competitor for United States
Women’s swimming
Olympic Games
Silver	2004 Athens^[1]	4x100 m freestyle
Silver	2004 Athens	4x100 m medley
World Championships - Long Course
Bronze	2005 Montreal^[2]	4 x 100 m freestyle relay
Silver	2007 Melbourne^[3]	4 x 100 m freestyle relay
Gold	2007 Melbourne	4 x 200 m freestyle relay
World Championships - Short Course
Gold	2004 Indianapolis^[4]	4 x 100 m freestyle relay
Silver	2004 Indianapolis	4 x 100 m medley relay
Pan American Games
Gold	2003 Santo Domingo^[5]	50 m freestyle

Kara Lynn Joyce (born October 25, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American swimmer. She competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle races, as well as winning a pair of silver medals in the 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay and the 4 x 100 m Medley Relay.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kara Lynn split her high school years between Rochester, New York and Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the family relocated to in 2001. It was in Ann Arbor that Kara Lynn began training with Club Wolverine under Jon Urbanchek. Kara Lynn also chose to compete for her high school team, the Ann Arbor Pioneers. In her senior year of high school, she set five Michigan High School State records, four of which were National High School records at the time. (Her state records are in the 50, 100 and 200 free as well as the 200 and 400 free relays. While only able to swim a total of 4 events, Kara Lynn set the 50 free record by leading-off the 200 free relay.)

After a successful prep career in which she broke a total of 5 National High School records, she headed south to swim for Jack Bauerle at the University of Georgia (UGA). During her freshman campaign, Kara Lynn won 5 NCAA titles including 2 individual titles (50m Free, 100m Free), helping Georgia to its 3rd consecutive runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Joyce along with junior Mary DeScenza led Georgia to its first NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship in 4 years by defending her individual titles in the 50 and 100 Free as well as adding a 4th place in the 200 Free. Joyce was also a key swimmer on 4 of Georgia's 5 NCAA Championship relays. En route to their victory, Georgia became the first team in NCAA swimming history to win all 5 relays.

During the 2006 NCAA Championships, contested at UGA's Gabrielsen Natatorium, Kara Lynn led the Bulldogs to a second place finish with 5 NCAA titles and Swimmer of the Year honors. On the first day of the meet, Kara Lynn broke the American Record in the 50 Freestyle (scy), previously held by former Bulldog Maritza Correia. Kara Lynn defended her 100 Freestyle title and added to that with a win in the 200 Freestyle. By winning all three, Kara Lynn became the first swimmer in the 25 year history of the Women's NCAA Championship Meet to win the 50, 100, and 200 Freestyle events.

In the 7th FINA World Championships - 25m in Indianapolis 2004, Kara Lynn Joyce received a gold medal competing in 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay and a silver medal and the 4 x 100 m Medley Relay.

In the 11th FINA World Championships - 50m in Montreal 2005, Kara Lynn Joyce received a bronze medal competing in 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay.

In the 2006 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships in Irvine California, Kara Lynn won the 50m freestyle in a time of 24.97. This gold medal earned her a spot on the 2006 USA Pan-Pacific team and the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Aus.

Kara Lynn Joyce holds 3 American records as part of the US National Team. These include the short course (25m) 400m Freestyle Relay and 400m Medley Relay teams and the long course (50m) 400m Freestyle Relay. Kara Lynn also holds the American Record as a member of the University of Georgia in the short course 200m Freestyle Relay.