In 1964, Donna deVarona won two gold medals at the Tokyo
Olympics. During her swimming career, she held 18 world records and 33
national records in all strokes and was named the most outstanding female
athlete in the world by Associated Press and United Press International.
Featured as the cover girl for magazines such as Life, Time, The Saturday
Evening Post and twice for Sports Illustrated, Donna is recognized as the
Queen of Swimming of her era.
Her contribution to the sports world didn't end with her retirement as an
athlete. In fact, it was her swimming career and candid personality that
opened the doors of success for her in the business world, and paved the way
for her outstanding contributions to the sports. Her career in
broadcasting journalism is astounding. At age 17, she became the first
woman to cover sports on network television for "ABC's Wide World of
Sports." From there, she covered the 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1984
Olympic Games, for ABC Sports as well as co-anchoring the late-night wrap-up
at the Los Angeles Olympics. Donna joined ABC's Eyewitness News in New
York and then NBC Sports and the Today Show. She is currently Vice
President of ABC Sports.
Donna's talents stretch to the field of sports administration, too. In
1977, she became a special consultant to the U.S. Senate and major contributor
to the passage of Title IX Legislation calling for equal sports opportunities
for women. As founding member and President of the Women's Sports
foundation, Donna lobbied for equal rights for women athletes. She has
served on special commissions for Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan, as well
as various International Olympic committees and congresses.
Donna is married to John Pinto and has two children, John David and Joanna
Katherine Elizabeth, named after Donna's sister Joanna Kearns of the
successful television comedy, "Growing Pains".
Donna is honored not only for her achievements in sports, and business, but
for the friendships she has maintained throughout the swimming and
broadcasting community.
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