Profiling Pam Lazzarotto

Pam Lazzarotto began swimming at age seven and swam for ETOBICOKE in Toronto (the Canadian equivalent to Mission Viejo swimming). Until age 13, Pam was a sprinter; 50 and 100 free and fly, and was the number one 100 freestyler. From 1976 to 1980 she swam under the Canadian Olympic coach, Deryk Snelling and was a national qualifier and consolation finalist in the 100 fly. She started out on a scholarship with the University of New Mexico in 1981, but when it snowed (she didn't know it snowed so far south), she transferred to the University of Arizona and swam there for two years. Because of her versatility, Pam ended up racing events that nobody else wanted: 1000 free (school record), 500 free, 400 IM, and 200 fly. Pam moved back to Toronto after college. In 1991 she came back to the sunny South and began working for herself in jewelry design and sales. Vintage Revival Accessories and Pam Lazzarotto Sterling are her two jewelry lines. Pam took 10 years off from racing and started out ocean swimming for a "new challenge," winning her age group division for three years in the two to three mile ocean series.

This story is from the SCAQ website.