LOUISE GOUIN

1999 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

During her twelve years of competitive swimming, Louise Gouin established herself as one of the most successful female swimmers of Rhode Island ever. She began her swimming career as an eight-year-old at the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys Club and Abbott Run Valley club. She also competed for the Little Rhody Aquatic Club, Smithfield YMCA and Cumberland Area Swim Team.

In 1 983, Gouin placed 10th in the 200 yard breaststroke at the YMCA Nationals. She competed at the National Junior Olympics in both long and short course meets from 1983 to 1985. In 1984, Louise won the 200 yard breaststroke at the Junior Nationals held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and finished sixth in the 100 yard breaststroke. She also received a National Age Group Award for having the third fastest time in the country in the 200 yard breaststroke for girls in the 15-1 6 age group.

Gouin received the Outstanding Swimmer Award from the Rhode Island Swim Coaches and Officials Association for four consecutive years from 1984 through 1987. She also received the New England Outstanding Swimmer Award for 15 to  8 year old girls in 1985 and 1986.

In 1985, Gouin placed third in the 400 individual medley and fifth in the 200 yard individual medley at the Junior Nationals and competed as a member of the North team of the National Sports festival in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and competed at the United States Senior Nationals in California. She qualified for and competed at every Senior National meet from 1985 to 1987.

Gouin received All-American recognition from United States Swimming in 1986 in the 200 and 400 individual medleys and was named to the United States Swimming Academic Ali-American team. She received a National Recognition Award in 1986 for having the eighth fastest time in the country in the 1500 meter freestyle. She also ranked tenth in the 800 meter freestyle and seventh in the 400 meter individual medley in the 15-16 age group. The next year she again received a National Recognition Award in the 17-1 8 age group for achieving the seventh fastest time in the 400 individual medley and fifteenth in the 200 individual medley. Gouin qualified and competed in the World Trials in 1987 and the United States Olympic Trials in 1988. Gouin earned a full scholarship to the University of California at Berkley before retiring. Recently married, Louise presently resides in the Virgin Islands.