| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's swimming | ||
| Competitor for the United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | Rome 1960 | 4x100 m freestyle relay |
| Silver | 1956 Melbourne | 4x100 m freestyle |
| Bronze | 1956 Melbourne | 400 m freestyle |
Sylvia Elina Ruuska (born July 4, 1942) is a retired medley and freestyle swimmer from the United States, who won two Olympic medals at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia when she was aged fourteen. She captured silver with the women's relay team in the 4x100 m freestyle and bronze in the individual 400 m freestyle. On June 27, 1958 she became the first woman to set an official world record in the 400 m individual medley, clocking 5:46.6 at a swimming meet in Los Angeles, California. She is of Finnish origin.
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Becky Collins |
Women's 200 metre individual medley world record holder (long course) August 16, 1958 – May 13, 1961 |
Succeeded by Donna de Varona |
| Preceded by Incumbent |
Women's 400 metre individual medley world record holder (long course) June 27, 1958 – July 15, 1960 |
Succeeded by Donna de Varona |