Athletics Hall of Fame
Julie (Benker) O’Brien is the first and only woman from Union College to win a national championship in swimming and diving, winning the 100 backstroke in 1993 with a then record-setting time of 57.25.
A 17-time All-American at Union, O’Brien helped lead the Dutchwomen to a 7-1 duel meet record, a second-place finish in the New York State meet, and an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, a finish that remains the highest in the school’s history. She remained the school record holder in the 100 backstroke and the 200 backstroke for nearly 25 years after her graduation, and was also a member of three relay teams (200 medley, 400 medley, 200 free) whose school records stood for at least a decade each.
As a senior, O’Brien was awarded Union’s Robert B. Ridings Award, presented to the outstanding senior female student-athlete, and the Women’s Commission Senior Athletic Prize, awarded to the female senior student-athlete who has done the most to promote sports for women at Union College. She also won the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Medal of Merit as Union's outstanding junior female student-athlete as well.
After graduation, Benker remained in college swimming as the head coach at the University of Rochester (1996-03) and Roger Williams University (2003-11).
