"I am truly honored to be a part of the inaugural class of the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame. I was so fortunate to grow up in a community that fully supported my sports career, and now that I am a mom, I appreciate that even more. I can not wait to share this honor with my family and everyone in the community who helped me along the way."
Summer Sanders
Olympic Swimming
High School: Oakmont
College: Stanford
* Double Olympic Gold Medalist 1992 Barcelona - 200m Butterfly, 4x100m Medley
* Olympic Silver Medalist 1992 Barcelona - 200m Medley
* Olympic Bronze Medalist 1992 Barcelona - 400m Medley
* 11 International Swimming Medals
* 2 Time NCAA Swimmer of the Year
* 6 individual NCAA titles
Summer Sanders was born in Roseville and at an early age many people could tell she was destined for stardom. By age three, Sanders could swim a lap of the pool. So in 1976 she joined her first competitive team, the Roseville Sugar Bears, at only 4 years old. Summer credits her family for her love of swimming. It was her older brother’s love of the water, her father’s way to “beat the heat”, and her mother’s positive encouragement that sparked the determination in this champion.
She first burst on the international scene at the age of 15, when she barely missed a spot on the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. In 1989, at age 17, she made her way to a silver medal at the Pan Pacific Championships, her first international meet. Two years later, she came back to win the event, as well as the 400m I.M. and the 200m butterfly. She won three gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games before embarking on her outstanding collegiate career at Stanford University.
In two years at Stanford, she compiled six individual NCAA titles, and set records in both 200m and 400m events. Summer earned back to back NCAA Swimmer of the Year awards and propelled Stanford to a National Championship in 1992. She also played basketball as a member of the Cardinal team.
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, she won gold medals in the 200m butterfly and in the 400m medley relay. She won silver in the 200 m medley, bronze in the 400 m medley, and set two U.S. records.
Summer retired to begin working in television. With her glowing personality and education, Summer was a natural for a screen career. She actually began this second career while she was still competing. In 1992 and 1994 she was a commentator for CBS Sports for the NCAA Swimming Championships. She then became a commentator for NBC’s coverage of the Olympics. Summer was the co-host of NBA Inside Stuff for eight years, a special contributor to the Today Show, and host of Fox’s hit sports show The Sports List. She hosted numerous other sports programming over the years and has appeared in films and reality shows including Celebrity Apprentice, where she was "fired" for being too nice. In January 2012, she was one of eight celebrities participating in the Food Network reality series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. Sanders currently works as a commentator on the new Pac-12 Network. She is the proud author of the book, “ Champions are Raised, Not Born: How My Parents Made Me A Success.”
Summer pursues excellence in all facets of her life, be it in the swimming pool, at home, or in front of the camera. She is married to Olympian, Erik Schlopy and has two children. In 1996, Sanders was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States, and a Right To Play Ambassador. Summer Sanders is truly a wonderful role model and fantastic representative of our community.
Summer's excitement during the entire evening was contagious. She smiled from the first sound of the opening music until the very last autograph was signed. She even managed to do this while holding a sleeping child. When Summer addressed those in attendance she spoke foundly not only of her sport and how wonderful it was to be from the Sacramento area, but how important family meant to her. It was very fitting that her brother, Trevor, introduced her. He was her inspiration to swim. She told of growing up with nightly words of encouragement from her mother and endless support from her father, who was at the event to once again support her. When she spoke of her children, Summer had to hold back the tears as she was speaking of what she obviously considers her greatest role in life: being a mom. She is a true inspiration and we are thankful the fans honored her as part of the inaugrual class of the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame.