Dana Vollmer - Personal

Personal

Vollmer was born in Syracuse, New York, and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region in Granbury, Texas. As a girl, Vollmer swam for the coach Ron Forrest at the Fort Worth Area Swim Team (FAST).

In college, Vollmer first enrolled in the University of Florida and swam for the Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition. She later transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where she finished her NCAA swimming career.

In 2003, Vollmer underwent heart surgery to correct a condition called supraventricular tachycardia, which produces a quickened pulse rate of about 240 beats per minute. After that surgery, an electrocardiogram indicated to her cardiologists that she might have the Long QT Syndrome. Then, further testing ruled out this condition. In any case, her physicians recommend that she always have a defibrillator at the poolside whenever she swims in case of a heart emergency.

Vollmer is an avid ambassador of the American Heart Association's program called "Go Red for Women."

She is married to Andy Grant, a former swimmer for Stanford University.