GREENVILLE, PA —Thanks to the Olympic Games of 2004 and 2008, you may know of Natalie Coughlin’s exploits in the water, but now, as part of Thiel College’s Community Building Initiative, you can get to know Coughlin on dry land. The 11-time medal winner will speak about her Olympic experiences and her advocacy for women in sports at Thiel College’s William A. Passavant Center on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. as the second Community Experience event of the fall semester.

Coughlin, a native of California and graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, is the second most decorated American female swimmer in history. She won six medals at the Beijing Games, including gold in the 100m backstroke, her signature event in which she also won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics; two silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay and medley relay; and three bronze in the 200m individual medley, the 4x200m freestyle relay and the 100m freestyle. Coughlin was the most decorated female athlete at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. In fact, she has medaled in every Olympic event she has entered. Coughlin currently plans to swim in the 2012 Olympics in London.

Outside of the pool, Coughlin is a published author, co-authoring “Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom and Became America’s Olympic Champion.” She is also involved with USADA’s Project Believe campaign, voluntarily participating in extra blood tests in order to speak out in support of drug-free sport. As a participant in Johnson & Johnson’s Hearts of Gold program, Coughlin’s 2008 Olympic performance resulted in an $85,000 donation to Right to Play, which uses sport and play programs to improve health, build life skills and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty and disease.

Coughlin is also an avid cook, amateur photographer and swim gear designer and development advisor for H2O Audio. She has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Rachel Ray” and “Access Hollywood” and has been featured in Men’s Vogue, Fitness magazine, Women’s Health, VIBE, Men’s Health, Sports Illustrated and Maxim.

The Community Building Initiative is a new effort to renew a sense of community and togetherness on Thiel’s campus as well as between Thiel and the greater community. The Community Building Initiative has a five-tiered approach to community building, including Community Experience, Community Gatherings, Community Traditions, Community Worship and Community Greening events.

All Community Building Initiative events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call 724-589-2106 or visit www.thiel.edu/cbi.

–30–