Rebecca Wolfe Damas is enrolled in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She began swimming at age six with her local summer league team, then quickly found success in year-round swimming with her club team. In age-group swimming she was Texas state champion six times. Rebecca was selected three times to attend the annual United States Swimming Olympic Development Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The highlight of her age-group career was winning the national championship in the 200-meter butterfly at age 13 in Santa Clara, CA, and setting a Texas state record in the event.

Rebecca swam for Clear Creek High School in League City, TX, setting four individual and two relay records. She was a high school All-American, in addition to achieving Scholastic All- American status. She was an All-State swimmer in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley. She graduated in 2000 as a Magna Cum Laude graduate, senior class officer, member of the National Honor Society, and a Peer Assistance Leadership Student. Rebecca’s high school achievements were further recognized in 2023 with her induction into the Clear Creek Independent School District Athletic Hall of Honor.

Rebecca continued her swimming career, first at the University of Nebraska, then at the University of Missouri. In 2001 at Nebraska, she won the Big 12 Conference title in the 200-yard butterfly, setting a conference championship meet record that stood for 18 years. At Missouri, she won a second Big 12 title in the 200-yard butterfly in 2003. At both Nebraska and Missouri, Rebecca was a NCAA championship meet qualifier and a Scholastic All-American. As a finalist at the NCAA championship meet in 2001, she was named to the NCAA Division I All-American swim team. Further recognition of her college career came in 2006 when she was one of only twelve women who were named to the Big 12 Conference Swimming and Diving 10th Anniversary Team.

The highlight of Rebecca’s career was qualifying and swimming at Olympic trials in 2000 and 2004. Rebecca graduated Cum Laude from Missouri in 2004 with dual Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Communications.

Photos: Colin Damas and Mizzou Athletic Department