SUSAN PERRONI SIMPSON

1998 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Susan Perroni Simpson began her swimming career at the age of 6 at the Bristol YMCA, and she moved on to the Brown Swim Club a couple of years later. Susan’s love for a challenge and her desire to win helped her to move up in the ranks very quickly. Her career extends over an eleven year period in which Susan broke numerous records in the freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, and the individual medley. She also held numerous titles and RI State records at all age levels.

Susan excelled as an age-group swimmer winning numerous State and New England Championships. She was one of five outstanding swimmers in New England each year that she competed and won a great number of awards. As an 8 year old, she was chosen the outstanding swimmer in her age group by the National Swimming Pool Institute.

As a member of the Little Rhody Aquatic Club, she had the top time in New England in the 400 meter freestyle. By 1982, she posed the fastest times in New England in the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 meter freestyle and the 200 butterfly. In the same span, she was named Rhode Island Swimmer of the Year.

As Susan grew into her teens, she competed at the U.S. Swimming Junior Nationals in the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle. In 1 982, she began swimming for Bay View Academy in Rhode Island. She was named Bay View’s Outstanding Swimmer in the three years that she competed. In 1983 she was named Rhode Island Girls All-State in the 1 00 freestyle, 200 individual medley, and 400 freestyle relay. In 1984 she was National Prep School All-American in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Susan attended West Virginia University on a swimming scholarship. While at West Virginia, Susan competed in the 200, 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle, 400 individual medley and the 200 butterfly. Highlights include placing third in the 1650 freestyle at the Eastern Championships at Brown University and, in January 1987, she won the 800 meter freestyle, setting a meet record at the Swim Forum in Fort Lauderdale, FL.