I’ve been doing a lot of treadmill running recently and tend to watch my old triathlon videos. As I do this, I always wonder what became of some of the old stars of the sport. So, I thought I would start a few threads to generate some triathlon history lessons.
Here we go: #1…Whatever happened to Jan Ripple. The “Louisana mama”…the “swamp lady”…anyone know??? She was a formidable adversary on the bike, but tended to prefer the “Louisana Crawl” on the run.
Where is she now?
HC
Here daughter, a collegiate swimmer, is an athlete selected by Lew Kidder as one of the most promising Olympic triathletes for the next Olympics. Lew put together a list of “most likely to be well suited” athletes based on their athleteic acheivements, potential over the next four years and a host of other criteria. Jan Ripple’s duaghter was one of those named in Lew’s informal list.
As for Jan, I’m not sure. I admired her grit and determination. She was an awesome athlete in a (then) new sport on the very frontier of endurance. I think she added a lot to the history of the sport. She was cool.
Jan remains in her hometown of Baton Rouge. Talked to her briefly a year or so ago. She and her husband Steve (a high-profile linebacker with the powerhouse LSU teams in the mid-1970’s) operate/coach one of the premier age group swim teams in the country. She stays very fit, running and swimming - but generally does not compete.
Daughter Shelley was a scholarship swimmer at Stanford, a multi-event Olympian in swimming in 2000, and won some local tris outright while in high school. Shelley’s younger sister Kate is a national class soccer star, but was a terrific swimmer as an age grouper. Both represent the kind of talent USAT needs to recruit in order to restock an extremely depleted women’s Olympic team. But don’t hold your breath.
Just as a side note, though Jan was a top swimmer herself (good enough to make the Olympic Trials in her early years) and a killer biker, she did o.k. as a runner as well. In the 1989 worlds, for example, she led all but the last three kilometers of the entire race - and then the only woman to pass her was the best tri runner of all time - Erin Baker.
Thanks, Guys. She was one of the toughest ladies out there during that time. I think she had more tough stuff deep down than most, and did it all while raising a family. Glad to hear she and family are doing well.
HC
My wife and I did an 80 mile ride with Jan this morning. She is still very strong and fit. Her and her husband, Steve, recently opened a training facility for kids and adults in addition to running a very distinguished swim program in our area. She also told me she was thinking about racing again for fun. I am sure she will still kick everyone’s ass!
WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA … hold the phone!!!
You’ve actually been TRAINING!?!?!?! This is BIG news
Yes, I still have the foot injury though. It looks like I’ll just be doing the swim and bike at IMFL. 
At least it will give me something to do for the first 6 hours. Then I can eat/shower and watch my wife and friends for the rest of the race.
She can be seen on her bike now and again at the local training races, just having fun. She and Steve give alot of their time and resources to the youth of Baton Rouge with their swim program, Crawfish Aquatics (which just won the state meet ) and their new CAP Elite program for youth sports. JAn also oversees the summer swim program that teaches thousands of itty bitties each summer and she is heavily involved in high school swimming in the area. Jan’s video’s are local legends…we’ve seen them all and the Ripples had Mike Pigg come in a few years ago to talk to give our multisporters a weekend clinic. He had alot of interesting stories to tell as well. The Ripples also organized the recent Gulf States Challenge swim meet in which several Olympians came to BR to compete and share pool space with our local swimmers. Steve is a strength and conditioning coach for Stanford these days and it looks like they are doing their swim camp here in early September. So you see, she has been very busy…not to mention that her oldest daughter, Shelly, is expecting her first child any moment.
and she is still awesomely FIT.
jan ripple is my aunt
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jan ripple is my aunt
Cool! What is she up to now?
Daughter Shelley was a scholarship swimmer at Stanford, a multi-event Olympian in swimming in 2000, and won some local tris outright while in high school.
I’m nit picking here, but I don’t think Shelley Ripple was an Olympian. I think she may have won some NCAA titles though, and probably was a multi-time Olympic trials finalist.
Geez, not even a seven-year-old post is safe around here. Whatever happened to the statute of limitations. Yes, you seem to be right. According to the Stanford Athletic Dept. website, she came close at the 2000 trials, made the world team in 2002.
Heh. Wh00ps. Totally didn’t see the date on your post, the thread was just on top as updated recently. I’m an idiot. 
well she lives in louisiana and dont live near her
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