Saying “Goodbye”: BJ Bedford Goes Out In Style, and Writes About Her Final Meet

(BJ BEDFORD, a member of the world record-shattering, gold-medal-winning United States 400 meter medley relay team at the Sydney Olympics, announced her retirement at a World Cup short-course swimming meet on Sunday, January 28, 2001 in Paris.

Predictably–because BJ is all about style–she went out in a blaze of glory, capturing three titles during the two-day competition to lead the American medal count. She won the 50 meter backstroke on Saturday with a 27.85. On Sunday, she broke away from the field to win 100 meter backstroke (59.35) by 1.15 seconds. Bedford won her last race by touching out Japan’s Tomoto Hagiwara by .05 seconds in the 100m individual medley. It took a personal best time of 1:01.32 to secure the victory.

One week earlier in Stockholm, Bedford cruised to relatively easy wins in the 50m and 100m backstroke events as a warm up for Paris.

"It was nice to break a minute again in the 100 back," said Bedford who touched the wall in 59.99. "I am planning to announce my retirement in Paris."

After her final triumph at the Georges Vallery Pool in Paris, Bedford spoke to the press about her swimming future.

"I’m retiring as of right now. No more swimming for me. I’m sure that this is what I want to do. I didn’t expect to do so well here, so I am happy to leave this way."

She ended an extremely successful career that decorated her with a medal from every major international competition including Pan-Pacs, Pan-American Games, World Championships, World University Games, Goodwill Games, U.S. Nationals, and the Olympic Games. And the list continues…

Bedford is remembered as one of the most versatile swimmers in the history of Peddie swimming. She led Peddie to three consecutive Eastern Championships and was a stalwart performer on the aquatics team that finished second at Nationals in 1990. In 1989 and 1990, the Peddie girls were named National High School Champions by SWIMMING WORLD Magazine.

Last year the Newark Star Ledger named Bedford to its Top 10 All-Century Swimming Team from New Jersey. This is a great tribute to a magnificent athlete who gave so much energy to her beloved sport.

Here's what BJ had to say after her final meet:)

By BJ Bedford

PARIS. Bonjour mes amis. Paris is amazing. The hardest part about it isn’t the French speaking, or even the people, it’s typing on a keyboard with just a couple of letters moved around!! Things just aren’t in the right places.

So the competition is over, and the other swimmers have left—well, Michael (Phelps) and his coach (Bob Bowman) are playing tourist today, so I think they are out celebrating the Ravens' victory at Notre Dame. It’s kind of chilly here, but it’s not too bad, much warmer than Sweden, EVERYONE spoke English in Sweden, even the little kids. Here, if you don’t speak French, they sometimes won’t even talk to you!!

I knew the announcer here from another meet, so after my races, he kept asking me questions in French, which I’m sure, I didn’t answer at all. In our media training sessions, they say to talk about what YOU want. Well, I think I did that with my limited French!! Pretty funny.

So I did a couple of flips into the pool off the blocks for fun, and the crowd seemed to like it. I just can’t see competition without fun, you know? I know it will be hard to let go. Swimming has been so good to me, and maybe pretty hard on me from time to time as well, but that’s why I love it. You get what you give, and I gave everything. And in return, I have received the world.

My time is almost up on my phone card for the internet, but I have to say that on my last day, I went my best time in the 100 IM. So I can say that I went a best time in my last race, even though Chad Carvin and Tom Malchow made fun of me for actually warming down!

For me, it’s time to move on. Good luck, backstrokers. And don’t forget to have fun.

Love, BJ

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