Candy Costie

Candace "Candy" Costie was born in Seattle on March 12, 1963, and trained in synchronized swimming from childhood under coach Charlotte Davis. She rose to prominence as part of a duet partnership with Tracie Ruiz that became one of the dominant pairs of their era, joining closely matched physical timing with long-term rehearsal and competitive discipline.

Costie and Ruiz's record across their ten-year partnership included four U.S. national championships, an NCAA title while competing for the University of Arizona, and silver at the 1982 World Championships. At the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, they won duet gold, cementing their status as American leaders in the sport.

When artistic swimming—then called synchronized swimming—entered the Olympic program at Los Angeles in 1984, Costie and Ruiz won the inaugural women's duet gold medal for the United States. Their carefully synchronized choreography received unusual public visibility at this defining moment for the sport, establishing the duet as a distinct competitive event.

After elite competition, Costie and Ruiz performed together in professional water shows and Costie moved into television commentary, including Olympic coverage, and public speaking. These roles helped translate the sport's combination of swimming, music, pattern, and performance for wider audiences. In 1995, Costie was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.