Barb Clark Parolin - Honoured Member Swimming Athlete, Stettler

Barb Clark Parolin Swimming Athlete, Stettler Inducted in 2012 Barb Clark started swimming at the age of eleven with the Stettler Swim Club. She was the first Canadian female to break the one minute mark in the 100m freestyle. She won an Olympic Bronze Medal in Montreal with the Canadian 4 X 100m free relay team. Barb set Canadian records in the 50 and 100m free, 50 and 100m butterfly, and 50 and 100m backstroke.

In 1976 she set a Commonwealth Games record in the 100m butterfly. Barb held the World Record in the 50m freestyle in 1975 and 1976. Barb swam at the Masters level for one year in 1985. She participated at the National Championships, where in seven races, she won seven gold medals and broke six Canadian national records.  When Barb finished as a competitor she became a community leader, teacher, and coach in Leduc where she helped shape the lives of the youth of Alberta.

Barb was named Alberta’s outstanding female swimmer in 1974 and 1976. She was inducted into the U.S. Swimming Hall of Fame in 1975. Barb received the Silver Governor General’s Award in 1976. She has also been inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.