Olympic Swimmers to grace the waters at MMP

Janel Jorgensen:

Janel Jorgensen rose to national prominence while still in high school when she won two gold medals at the Pan American Games. That momentum catapulted her to qualify the next year for the US Olympic team that traveled to Seoul,South Korea in 1988. The then 17 year old Jorgensen won a silver medal in the women's 400 medley relay and finished 5th overall in the 100 Butterfly.  Jorgensen then went home to Ridgefield, CT to begin her senior year in high school. Her swim and academic success tookher to Stanford University where she graduated in 1993 with a degree in Psychology. She held four American records, was a 27 time All American, won 15 NCAA championship titles, and is currently a member of the Stanford Hall of Fame. Jorgensen parlayed her athletic and academic success into a fast rising 12 year career at Oracle where she worked in strategic development.

After participating in and working as a volunteer and a board member of Swim Across America for 18 years, Jorgensen decided to dedicate her life to ensuring the success of the program and growing SAA's impact on communities, families, individuals and cancer research. In October 2005 she took over the Executive Director duties of SAA and, through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and a dedicated board of directors, oversaw a 2006 campaign that raised over $2.2 million for cancer research, treatment and prevention. The 2007 campaign increased those results to $2.5 million. Jorgensen travels the country raising charitable funding and corporate support. She delivers many motivational speeches while working with hundreds of community groups on swimming programs and charitable fund-raising. 

As Executive Director currently residing in Boston, MA, Jorgensen has successfully raised the profile of Swim Across America, increased charitable contributions and grown corporate support to assist in the expansion of SAA programs. Her experience in competing at the highest level in a sport that is both individual and team oriented provided her with the skillset to lead a large group of volunteers and donors.  She feels blessed to be able to merge her passion with swimming with her job! 

Craig Beardsley:

Craig Beardsley was heavily favored to win the 200m butterfly as a member of the 1980 Olympic Team, only to be forced from competition when politics intervened, and the US boycotted Moscow's Summer Games. Between 1980 and 1983, Craig held both the World and the American Records in the 200m butterfly, and he won Gold at the Pan American Games in both 1979 and 1983.  A nine-time US National Champion, Craig captured another Gold in the same event at the NCAA Championships while an All-American at the University of Florida.

A proud and devoted father, he and his two children Carter and Caroline live in NJ.  Having been an inspirational SAA swimmer since 1987, Craig also sits as a member of our current Board of Directors.