Ann Curtis Cuneo
Freestyle Swimmer · Crystal Plunge
Swimming · Olympic Gold Medalist
Ann Curtis Cuneo
A San Francisco native who trained with the Crystal Plunge club, Ann Curtis Cuneo won two gold medals at the 1948 London Olympics after being honored as the nation's top amateur athlete at just 18.
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Olympic Gold Medals (1948 London Games)
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Age When She Won the Sullivan Award
400m Freestyle
Individual Olympic Gold Medal Event
The Backstory
A San Francisco Original
Crystal Plunge & Charlie Sava
A native San Franciscan, she trained with the San Francisco Crystal Plunge swim team under coach Charlie Sava.
Top Amateur Athlete at 18
In 1944, at just 18 years old, received the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, one of the sport's highest amateur honors.
Golden in London
Won an individual gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the 1948 Olympic Games, then anchored the U.S. 4x100-meter freestyle relay team to a second gold, rallying the team from behind to win.
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See Ann Curtis Cuneo in Action
1944 → 1948
Career Timeline
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1944
James E. Sullivan Memorial Award
Honored as the nation's top amateur athlete at age 18.
Amateur Career & Olympic Triumph
A Crystal Plunge standout coached by Charlie Sava.
San Francisco Crystal Plunge team member — Trained under coach Charlie Sava
James E. Sullivan Memorial Award — 1944, at age 18
Every award, on the record
Honors & Awards
Olympic Gold Medalist
400-meter freestyle, London Olympic Games.
Olympic Gold Medalist (Relay)
Anchored the U.S. 4x100-meter freestyle relay team to a come-from-behind gold medal.
James E. Sullivan Memorial Award
Honored as the nation's top amateur athlete at age 18.
More To Know
Deeper Cuts on Ann Curtis Cuneo
Beyond her two golds, she also won a silver medal at the 1948 London Games, and over her career set five world records and 56 U.S. records en route to 30 national championship titles.
After the Olympics she toured professionally with swimming exhibition shows from 1948 to 1951.
In 1959 she opened the Ann Curtis Swim Club in Terra Linda, which had grown to nearly 950 students by 1983 and produced future Olympians.
She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966 and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
She married Gordon Cuneo in 1949 and raised five children together.
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