AP Photo/Michael Sohn
Foreign athletes
Gemma Spofforth
As college loomed, Spofforth had a choice to make: Diagnosed with pancreatitis, she could drop swimming and stay home in England for school, or she could keep in her lane and head to the U.S. In the end, she bought the hard sell of Florida head coach Gregg Troy and his assistant, Martyn Wilby, a Brit. It was the right choice. As a freshman, Spofforth was the NCAA's 200-meter backstroke champ in 2007, becoming the Gators' first individual titleholder since 1995. She eventually stockpiled six more NCAA crowns, 18 All-America honors and a team national championship, Florida's first in 28 years. With her college days now behind her, Spofforth will stay home and swim, representing England at the Summer Olympics in London.
