Natalie Coughlin

Coughlin was born in Vallejo, California, the daughter of Jim and Zennie Coughlin. She is of Irish and one quarter Filipino ancestry. Coughlin first began swimming at Vallejo Aquatics Club when she was 8 years old, where she was coached by Tuffy Williams. She attended St. Catherine of Siena School in Vallejo, for kindergarten through eighth grade, and then Carondelet High School in Concord, California. While in high school in 1998, she became the first swimmer to qualify for the Summer National in all fourteen events. Coughlin broke two individual national high school records in the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.45) and the 100-yard backstroke (52.86). She graduated from Carondelet High School in 2000. Coughlin attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she swam for coach Teri McKeever's California Golden Bears swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 2001 to 2003. During her three years as a Cal Bears swimmer, she won eleven individual NCAA national championships, and a twelfth NCAA relay title. She was recognized as the NCAA Swimmer of the Year for three consecutive years, and she was a two-time recipient of the Honda Sports Award for Swimming and Diving, recognizing her as the outstanding college female swimmer in 2001–02 and 2002–03. Sports Illustrated magazine named her its college Female Athlete of the Year. Coughlin was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Coughlin graduated from Berkeley with a degree in psychology in the spring of 2005.

Coughlin was the spokeswoman for C20 Coconut Water.

One of Coughlin's favorite hobbies is cooking. During the 2008 Summer Olympics, she was invited to prepare a Chinese-themed dish on Today. She has appeared as a judge on Iron Chef America. She appeared on Food Network's Chopped Sport Stars episode that first aired on September 3, 2013.

Coughlin competed in season 9 of Dancing with the Stars with season 1 professional champion, Alec Mazo. She was eliminated on the fifth episode.

Coughlin appeared in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has also written a book called Golden Girl.

In 2013, Coughlin appeared in Chopped where she lost in the final round to Danica Patrick. While on the show she mentioned she grows a vegetable and herb garden in her backyard, as well as raising backyard chickens.

Coughlin appeared on one of the covers for the 2015 ESPN The Magazine The Body Issue and in July/August 2016, the cover of Self's Olympics themed issue.

Also in 2015, Coughlin became a brand ambassador and investor in a frozen food company, Luvo Inc.

In 2017, she became a partner in Gaderian Wines, a winemaking operation in Napa Valley.

In 2021, Coughlin was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2023, Coughlin was elected vice-chair and chair-elect for the board of directors of USA Swimming. She will be vice-chair until 2025 and then serve a four-year term as board chair until 2029.