| Sarah Catherwood | |
| Birth Name: | Sarah Louise Catherwood |
| Birth Date: | 23 May 1980 |
| Birth Place: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Height: | 177cm (70inches) |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Sport: | Swimming |
Sarah Louise Catherwood (for a time known as Sarah Jackson, born 23 May 1980) is an Olympic swimmer from New Zealand.
Catherwood started swimming aged eight and was a teen swimming sensation; as of 2011, one of her national age 13 records still stood.[1] She was a member of Christchurch's AquaGym Swim Club alongside Anna Simcic.[2]
Catherwood was one of the 14 swimmers who represented New Zealand at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, and she competed at one event.[3] Aged 16, she was the youngest New Zealand swimmer in Atlanta. Catherwood was in a team with Anna Wilson, Dionne Bainbridge, and Alison Fitch to compete in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay. They came fifth in their heat and did not qualify for the final;[4] their overall placement was 11th out of 21 teams.[5] Catherwood is New Zealand Olympian number 698.[6]
Catherwood retired after competing at the 2004 FINA World short course swimming championships in Indianapolis, USA. She improved her personal best time in 100 metres freestyle by over half a second at those championships.[7]
In 2011 at age 30, Catherwood decided to try a comeback, with Olympic team mate Paul Kent as her trainer. At the time, she was based in Palmerston North. She later pursued her swimming career as a member of Roskill Magic, a swimming club in the Auckland suburb of Mount Roskill.
Catherwood was born in 1980 in Christchurch, New Zealand.[8] She moved to Palmerston North in 2008 to study a veterinary degree at Massey University. After that, she moved to Auckland.[9] Outside of swimming, Catherwood's passion is horses.