#SoCaltech: Betsy Mitchell

“For several decades, I have kept a hard copy of a Swimming World Magazine quotation near me. This quote has occupied my bedroom wall, my swimming locker, and now, the desk in my office. It is a simple yet profound statement: "Don't Think Small." When I cut those words out of the magazine as a teen, they inspired me to dream but also reminded me to never stop striving. In that issue of Swimming World Magazine, I had read about a 90-year-old woman who was still swimming, racing, and setting records. She was an inspiration to me; it meant there were no limits. If you can dream it, you can develop a plan to achieve it.”

Caltech athletics director Betsy Mitchell is a three-time Olympic medalist who represented the United States in 1984 and 1988. She also currently serves the City of Pasadena as a member of the Recreation and Parks Commission. This quote is from her recently published memoir, More Than Medals: Lessons from an Olympian, which will be featured in Caltech’s Behind The Book series on Wednesday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Ramo Auditorium.

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.