Terri Stickles

Terri Lee Stickles (born May 11, 1946) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder.

Terri Stickles was born May 11, 1946 in San Mateo, California, to Edward A. Stickles, a West Coast credit manager for a large clothing store, and Olive W. Stickles, a physical education teacher and former coach. By the age of ten, Terri began her competitive training with the San Mateo Marlins, a quality age-group team coached by Ray Taft, a former 1940 National medley champion, who also coached Terri's brother Ted at a young age. Terri attended San Mateo's Hillsdale High School, where as a Freshman at 15, she competed and excelled as a member of the women's swim team. An early athletic pursuit for Terri included skating with the roller derby, though her mother Olive had an understandable preference for swimming, and believed Ray Taft was an important influence in her daughter's early development as a swimmer. Coach Taft would later become President and Coach of the San Mateo Aquatic Club in 1969, well after Terri had moved to San Jose.

After her Freshman year, Terri left San Mateo and the Marlins and transferred to Blackford High School, now known as Boynton High School in San Jose to be closer to the coaching available with the Santa Clara Swim Club. She eventually graduated Santa Clara High School, in June, 1964, with a high grade-point average.