LV’s Fritz honored on state’s birthday

Tim Graham

Thursday, Oct. 31, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Twenty-one years after she last competed at a competitive level, Las Vegan Laura Fritz is a little bewildered at her latest honor.

The former internationally rated and world record-holding swimmer was asked Tuesday to take part in the Nevada Day 1996 parade this morning in Carson City, an event expected to draw 15,000.

"It's been so long," Fritz said. "I'm absolutely thrilled. I'm pleasantly surprised to say the least.

"There's not much afterlife for swimming from a professional standpoint, other than doing some coaching. It's such a surprise because I'm not well known and have not competed in swimming since 1975."

Even more shocking to the Clark High graduate was her company for the celebration. Also invited were LPGA Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan and back-to-back Tour de France champion Greg LeMond.

"I hope I get my picture taken with them," she said.

Fritz, who was crowned Miss Nevada in 1973, chopped her biggest waves as a member of the 400-meter relay squad that set a world record more than 20 years ago, becoming the first athlete in state history to hold a world athletic mark.

She also is a six-time collegiate individual events champion and once was ranked the fifth-fastest woman in the world in the 100-meter freestyle.

Fritz is the executive director of development for the Community College of Southern Nevada, a job that entails searching for private resources to fund scholarships, new programs and campus facilities.

And even though she hasn't taken to the water for competitions other than the Corporate Challenge, Fritz still finds herself using the lessons she learned poolside in everyday life.

"There's still a competitive nature that comes from the swimming," she said. "There's discipline and responsibility that you learn in an individual sport. In a sport like swimming, there's no one else to take care of you. You have to do the work and take care of yourself."

Fritz