Katie Hoff Inducted Into Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- An Olympic gold medalist returns to her roots to receive a huge honor.
Olympic swimmer, Katie Hoff, who lived and trained in the Baltimore area, has been inducted into the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame Saturday, but she also brought a touching message to save lives.
We know swimmer Hoff for her superior athleticism in the pool, winning three Olympic medals, those years of hard work and achievement are honored at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where she trained.
Katie was one of four people being inducted in the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame.
"And I drive into this parking lot, it's like, 'oh my gosh, I spent hours and hours at this pool,'" she said.
Hoff retired from professional swimming after she developed blood clots in her lungs. She is now helping to build awareness for pulmonary embolisms.
"Which initially I thought, 'oh it's just a strain or something.' Very quickly realized that was not the case."
Katie went to see doctors and was misdiagnosed three times before the discovery of her pulmonary embolisms or two blood clots in her lungs.
Now on blood thinners, which helps with her condition, Katie is on a mission to help others.
"We actually go around promote our 100 days of awareness. Just to have people asking questions, asking their doctor so they are as confused as I was."
Now working with the National Blood Clot Alliance, the 25-year-old world record holding simmer is helping save lives, one day at a time.
Katie explained that as many as 100,00 Americans die each year from blood clots.
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