BF 006 – Anne Cribbs

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Anne Cribbs
Anne Cribbs

There is a fountain of youth. It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.
~ Sophia Loren

Anne’s swimming career started when she was six at the local pool in Menlo Park, California. Anne went on to win gold as a 14 year-old swimmer at the 1959 Pan American Games. A year later, she competed at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games. Holder of the American records in both the one hundred and two hundred meter breast stroke events, she placed fifth in the 200 Meter Breast Stroke at the Rome Olympics and was a member of the gold medal-winning, 400-meter medley relay team. Anne retired from competitive swimming at the age of fifteen. Few high schools and no universities had women’s competitive swimming teams and there were no more mountains to climb.

Since then Anne’s professional career has been dedicated to serving sport and the community. In 1995, Anne co-founded the American Basketball League, the first women’s professional basketball league in the United States. During its existence, the ABL set the standard for what women’s professional sports could and should become, creating a permanent legacy and forever changing the paradigm.

She became President and CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee (BASOC) in 1999, and led the San Francisco 2012 Olympic bid. Highlights of her work include consolidating political support, including mayors, county Boards of Supervisors, the Governor’s office and State legislature. The bid enjoyed 90% public support, rallied the support of 400 Northern California Olympians and 150 Paralympians, and reached out to community groups throughout the Bay Area. San Francisco lost out to New York in the voting for the 2012 U.S. Candidate City but Anne’s work left a huge legacy, which will be felt in Northern California for years to come.

Born in Burlingame, CA, and currently a Palo Alto resident, Anne and her husband have nine children. She received her AA degree from Foothill College in 1974 and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University in 1979. She was inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, and is also a member of the San Mateo County Hall of Fame and the Menlo Atherton High School Hall of Fame.

In this exclusive Brand Fifty episode, we discuss a range of topics with Anne including:

• Seniors Games open to all 50+ers
• With the Seniors Games the competition never ends
• 92 year old race walker at the Senior Games – it’s never too late
• National Senior Games is way to find out where the next games are located
• Anne’s beliefs and Biogenesis
• Fitness plays a role in success – especially in business
• People that are looking for change should make a passion list
• Take baby steps and see what works
• Win or lose keep that smile