Breeja Larson: Mormon Athlete

Breeja Larson won an Olympic gold medal in the 4x100-meter swimming relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, England. To qualify for the team, she won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:05.92 at the trials held in Omaha, Nebraska. She also competed in the final 100-meter breaststroke but false started. She was allowed to compete when it was determined there was a technical issue. She finished in sixth place.

She finished third in the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2014 Pan Pacs and placed sixth in the 200 meter. She is the current American record holder in the 100-yard (57.43) and 200-yard (2:04.48) breaststroke.

Larson was born on April 16, 1992, in Mesa, Arizona. She lived in Boise, Idaho, during her high school, but graduated from Mountain View High School in Mesa. She lettered in softball and track and field, and she began swimming her senior year. Until then, she had found swimming boring. She swam for Texas A&M University while studying for a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She has six sisters and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.