In 1997 Crippen earned a silver medal as a part of Team USA at the Pan Pacific Championship in Fukuoka, Japan. She followed that performance with a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley and a sixth-place finish in the 200-meter individual medley at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth, Australia. She represented the United States at the Pan Pacific Championshipsin 1999 where she placed fourth in the 400-meter individual medley. Crippen earned a spot on the 2000 Olympic Team by placing second in the 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. Olympic Trials. In the 2000 Summer Olympics, she placed sixth in the event. Following her Olympic showing, Crippen competed at the 2002 Pan Pacific Championships and 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. Crippen is a three-time U.S. national champion, winning two national titles in the 400-meter individual medley and one in the 200-meter breaststroke. While attending Villanova University, she swam for the Villanova Wildcats swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association and Big East Conference competition. During her college swimming career, Crippen won an NCAA championship in the 400-yard individual medley and ten Big East championships, and was named Big East "Swimmer of the Year" in 1999 and 2001. She was named Villanova "Swimmer of the Year" in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
Personal
Crippen is the daughter of Peter and Patrica Crippen. She, her late brother Fran, and sisters Teresa and Claire were all members of the Germantown Academyswim team and swam for coach Richard "Dick" Shoulberg; all four have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in swimming. Her brother Fran won a bronze in the 10-kilometer open water race at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships. He swam for the University of Virginia where he was an 11-time All-American and two-time Atlantic Coast Conference swimmer of the year in 2006 and 2008. He died on October 23, 2010 due to exhaustion after he did not pass the line during a race. Her sister, Claire Crippen, is a national finalist, an NCAA All-American, and swam for the University of Virginia. Her sister Teresa is a Pan American Games Champion in the 200-meter backstroke and U.S. National Team member; Teresa swam for the University of Florida. Crippen retired from swimming in 2004 and currently lives in Washington, D.C., and works as a marketing professional. She is a member of USA Swimming's Board of Directors and the Athletes Executive Committee. Crippen is married to Sean Plankey, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Coast Guard.
