Jean Troy is Always Around the Water

Jean Troy, 73, was born in Tarbaro, N.C. She was fortunate that a WPA swimming pool was built in her small home town of 5,000, in 1935. As a 9-11 yr. old, she swam every summer. This established her skill in swimming and her love of the water. Troy matriculated at UNC in 1948. The next three years she was the field director of the Girl Scouts in Charlotte, which included the waterfront at summer camp.

In 1951, she married Ed, who worked for DuPont Construction. With a family of three, they moved to Wilmington, Del., in 1960. Troy was the Aquatic Director at the YMCA for thirteen years. With a staff of 25, she found time to set up a mini-team of four and five year olds. Roger Franks, an Olympian from England, introduced her to Masters swimming when she was 45. As a member of the Colonial 1776 team, she made Top Ten. Gradually, she improved her times, and moved up to All-American, with wins in the 50, 100 and 200 free. In 1983, Ed retired and they started a tradition of taking an annual six month vacation in the Bahamas, on their boat. In 2000, with only seven months of training and competing, she had 40 Top Ten times and swam on three national record relay teams. Troy received the Coaches Award for the Outstanding Performance-Female. Troy says, "I loved the water since I was a child and always found a way to be near the water."

She and Ed live in Sun City Center, Fla.