Cathy Ferguson is a former American competitive swimmer who rose to international fame during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
At just 16 years old, she won two gold medals—one in the women’s 100-meter backstroke and another in the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter medley relay team.
Ferguson’s outstanding performance at the Olympics, where she also set a world record, cemented her as one of the leading swimmers of her time.
After her Olympic success, she excelled in national competitions, setting many US and world records before retiring from professional swimming.
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- Full name: Cathy Jane Ferguson (later Cathy Brennan)
- Date of birth: July 22, 1948
- Age: 76 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Stockton, California, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Former competitive swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, swimming coach
- Height: 173 cm (5’8″)
- Parents: Not applicable
- Siblings: Not applicable
- Spouse: Larry Brennan, Alex Ferguson
- Children: Three
- Relationship status: Married
- Religion: Not applicable
- Ethnicity: Not applicable
- Net worth: $1.5 million
Early life and education
Cathy Ferguson was born on July 22, 1948 in Stockton, California and is currently 76 years old. As she grew up, she showed exceptional sportsmanship, which led to her early success in swimming competitions.
Ferguson trains with the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) and is coached by some of the sport’s top coaches. By age 16, she competed nationally, setting US and world records.
Although not much is publicly documented about her early education, her focus on swimming and rigorous training laid the foundation for Olympic success in the mid-1960s.
Personal life
After her Olympic career, Cathy Ferguson married Larry Brennan and together they raised three children. Her family life after swimming includes raising her children and continuing her passion for swimming as a coach.
Ferguson has coached at both the high school and club levels, sharing his expertise and love of the sport with younger generations in California. Her marriage to Larry Brennan remains strong and the couple enjoys a relatively private life.
Career
Cathy Ferguson’s swimming career began in the early 1960s when she quickly established herself as a strong competitor in the backstroke events. At age 16, she qualified for the United States Olympic team to compete at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
At the Olympics, Ferguson made history by winning the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke, setting a world record with a time of 1:07.7. She also contributed to the US team’s victory in the 4×100 meter medley relay, adding another gold medal to her title.
In addition to his Olympic championship, Ferguson also broke world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events, and set many American records during his career.
She also won 10 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles. After retiring from competitive swimming, Ferguson turned to coaching and mentoring young club and high school swimmers.
prize
- Olympic gold medal (100m backstroke) – 1964 Tokyo Olympics
- Olympic Gold Medal (4x100m Medley Relay) – 1964 Tokyo Olympics
- Pan American Games silver medal (100m backstroke) – 1963
- Pan American Games bronze medal (200m backstroke) – 1967
Net worth
Cathy Ferguson’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million. Given her contributions to swimming and her subsequent career as a coach, her financial success largely comes from her Olympic achievements, sponsorship and involvement in the sport.
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