Three-Time World Champion
11-Time NCAA Champion
27-Time NCAA All American
Olympic silver medal in 2004 in 400m FR
First female African American swimmer to make US Olympic team and win a medal
First African American to break a world record in swimming
First African American female to hold American Records
Former American record holder in 50y freestyle and 100y freestyle
Two-Time Pan American Game Gold Medalist
Three medals at World Championships
Four gold medals at 2005 World University Games
Maritza works with Nike to help get inner-city kids into the pool and learning to swim, spreading her passion for the sport.
Born On: December 23, 1981
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Resides: Brandon, Florida
Education: University of Georgia
Height: 5'9
Maritza got into swimming after being diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of seven. She was given the option of either swimming or doing gymnastics by her doctor, and her parents chose to sign her up for a swim team in Puerto Rico. On her path to making an Olympic team, Maritza encountered many obstacles.
Maritza hoped to participate at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She went to the Olympic Trials, but she missed making the team. This was one of the lowest points of her career; she suffered depression and became disappointed at the sport of swimming, and needed psychological help. However, a 2000 Team USA member who remains very close friends with her, along with a psychologist, helped her come out of her depression, and re-emerge as a top swimmer. She ended up loving the sport, and worked hard over the years to become the first African American person to make the U.S. Olympic Swimming team, and even brought home a Silver Medal from Athens in 2004!
Maritza was featured in "Parting the Water" with Cullen Jones, a movie about the challenges that Latino and Black swimmers face.
