Karen Donaldson
Competition | 1982
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
Karen Donaldson was one of the most versatile and prolific swimmers of her era. In a career that spanned from 1968 to 1980, she amassed gold, silver and bronze medals in international competitions. In the 1968 Paralympic competition in Tel Aviv, Israel, Karen garnered three silver and one bronze medal. She competed in the 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany and won one gold, one silver and one bronze. Karen won five gold medals, one silver medal and set a Pan American record in the backstroke at the 1974 Pan Am Games in Mexico City. In 1976, She swam in the Toronto, Canada Paralympics and earned two bronzes. To wrap up her international competition, she merely won five gold, one silver and set World and Paralympic records in Freestyle; the Backstroke; anchor in the 3 x 25 medley relay record; and anchored the world record 4 x 60 medley wheelchair race team at the 1980 Paralympics in the Netherlands.
In addition to her participation in wheelchair sports, Karen found the time and energy to serve as President of the Michigan Wheelchair Athletic Committee and a founding member of the Motor City Wheelers Wheelchair Athletic Association. Karen dedicated the better part of her life ensuring that others would experience the benefits of participation in wheelchair sports.
