SARAH PERRONI HART

2006 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Sarah began her swimming career with the Little Rhody Aquatic Club. Her honors included many Top Ten Rhode Island and New England swim listings. She competed on the New England Zone Championship Team and won the 1987 United States Swimming Junior National 100 yard freestyle championship and placed second in the 50 yard freestyle. In 1987, the RI Swim Coaches and

Officials Association named her the RI Swimmer of the Year.

           While at Saint Mary’s Bay View Academy, Sarah won the 1987 New England Prep School 50 yard freestyle championships. She transferred to The Peddie School where she won the Eastern Prep School 50 yard free in 1988, was elected co-captain, and selected their Most Valuable Swimmer. At Peddie she was Prep School All American, Top 16 in the US Swimming for the 50, 100 and 200 yard freestyle, and a US Senior National Qualifier. In 1989 she was named the Words Unlimited RI School Girl Athlete of the Year. At the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, she won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle for 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Sarah was also recognized as: Most Valuable Swimmer, Most Outstanding Swimmer, and NCAA National Swimmer of the Week, four time NCAA All American Swimmer and co-captain of her college team.

In 1991 Sarah was the US Senior National Champion in the 50 yard freestyle and in 1992 was a US Olympic Trial Qualifier. As an Olympic Festival participant, she was the first female athlete to win 6 medals: 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. From 1989 to 1991 Sarah ranked Top 16 in the World in the 50 meter freestyle and Top 25 in the World for the 100 meter freestyle. In 1991 she was named the Florida Gold Coast Swimmer of the Year.

Sarah competed in International Competition from 1990 to 1994 as a member of the US National Team. At the World University Games in Buffalo, NY she earned a gold medal as a member of the 400 M freestyle relay, a bronze in the 100 M freestyle, and was a finalist in the 50 M freestyle. In 1993, at the Short Course World Championships held in Spain, Sarah was a member of the 400 M medley relay and 400 M freestyle relays that set American records. She participated at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO and was a member of the Pan Pacific Team in Kobe, Japan.