Noemi Lung (2006) - Athletics Hall of Fame - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Noemi Lung

Induction:
2006

Swimming 1997-2000
Noemi (Lung) Zaharia came to Florida Atlantic in 1990 as an accomplished swimmer. Zaharia competed in both the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games, representing Romania. She took silver in the 400 individual medley and bronze in the 200 IM in 1988. Prior to that, she swam in the 1987 World University Games, where she won five gold and two bronze medals and received the Most Valuable Athlete Award. While at FAU, Zaharia earned All-America honors in 1991 and 1992. She took eight Division II individual championships. Zaharia was named the NCAA's 1992 Female Athlete of the Year and received the Honda Award for excellence in sports. Her FAU career was not limited to competition. Zaharia also served as the associate head coach for both the men's and women's swim program from 1997-2000, a period when she coached four qualifiers at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. She was also involved with the coaching and recruiting of Bela Szabados who captured the 1997 national championship event for FAU. Zaharia helped recruit and coach five national qualifiers, three competitors in the 2000 South American games and a participant in the World University Games and European Championships. She was also heavily involved in the FAU outreach program to local elementary schools. Zaharia has since become instrumental in starting and serving as the head coach at Florida International.