INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: 33 FINA MASTERS WORLD RECORDS, WORLD POINTS-1358, COMPETED IN 6 AGE GROUPS (55-59 THROUGH 80-84); TOP TEN: 23 TIMES; 16 LONG COURSE AND 17 SHORT COURSE FINA MASTERS WORLD RECORDS ALL IN THE BACKSTROKE EVENTS. IN WORLD RANKINGS SINCE 1985, SHE HAS 33- NUMBER 1 AND 15- NUMBER 2 LONG COURSE AND 27- NUMBER 1, 2- NUMBER 2 AND 1- NUMBER 3 SHORT COURSE FOR A TOTAL OF 60- NUMBER 1, 17- NUMBER 2 AND 1- NUMBER 3 TOTAL WORLD RANKINGS IN THE BACKSTROKE. SHE COMPETED IN FOUR FINA MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WINNING 12 MEDALS, ALL GOLD
Born in Philadelphia, she learned to love the water at a young age and it wasn’t long before she was a champion. As a teenager, she began setting records in her signature backstroke sprints. She swam for Temple University’s undefeated 1941 and 1942 teams and was a Senior Middle Atlantic Champion in the 100-yard and 100-meter backstroke events.
After college she married, had four children and never got back in the pool so to speak, but kept in the swimming “game.” Her husband, Dick Steadman, soon began his lifelong career as a Head Swimming and Diving Coach at several schools, ending at Monmouth (NJ) University. Doris was with him, helping every step of the way and Dick couldn’t have asked for a better partner or more knowledgeable assistant.
Doris did not compete again until some 40 years after her Temple University days. It was Dick and daughter, Nancy, who got her involved with Masters Swimming. The 1983 US Masters Nationals in Fort Lauderdale would be Doris’ introduction to the world of Masters swimming, where Dick had been asked to be announcer. So, at her very first time back in the competitive lane, she placed in the top three, in her age group, in her signature backstroke events.
After the Nationals, the Steadman trio, Dick, Nancy and Doris, began traveling and swimming all over the country together. The Steadman family was bonded by swimming and the time they spent together at these events were priceless. The Steadman’s lost Dick in 1993, and it was swimming that kept Doris going. With Nancy by her side, she just kept swimming.
Doris Steadman set a total of 33 Masters World Records. She competed in a total of four FINA Masters World Championships, swimming in the backstroke events, winning a total of twelve gold medals.
Doris Steadman passed away on January 8, 2013 at the age of 88 years, twenty years after her beloved husband Dick Steadman.