Kristi Overton Johnson

Former water skiing world champion[10]

What is Kristi Overton Johnson known for?

One of the most distinguished alumni of Junius H Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina, is none other than the water skiing world champion Kristi Overton Johnson. Born on February 16, 1970, in Greenville, North Carolina, Overton Johnson's exceptional proficiency in water skiing began to manifest at a very early age. By the age of 5, she was already water skiing competitively and turned professional when she was just 13 years old.

During her active professional career from 1983 to 2005, Overton Johnson accumulated an impressive 80 pro victories, with more number 1 world rankings than any other female water skier. She was the holder of the women's world slalom record from 1992 to 2010. Her victorious journey in the world of water skiing includes being an eight-time U.S. Masters Champion, four-time U.S. Open Champion, and the 1999 World Champion.

In recognition of her immense contribution to the sport, Overton Johnson was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and featured in the North Carolina Women in Sports Display at the NC Sports Hall of Fame at the N.C. Museum of History. Subsequent years saw her entry into the USA Water Ski Hall of Fame in 2013 and the International Water Ski & Wakeboard Federation Hall of Fame in 2017.

Besides her achievement-studded athletic career, Overton Johnson's academic journey was equally commendable. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law.

Her post-professional life saw her turning into an author and a missionary. In 2003, she founded 'In His Wakes', a Christian-based water sports ministry, and later laid the foundation of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries. She also created the 'Victorious Living' magazine, a quarterly publication distributed within the US prison system. Overton Johnson published her first book, 'Running the Course: Becoming a Champion in God's Eyes' in 2004, followed by her second book, 'Hit it!: Your Victory May Just be One "Hit it" Away!' in 2015.

In her personal life, Overton Johnson resides in Keystone Heights, FL with her husband, Tim, and their three children. Her father, V. Parker Overton, was the founder of Overton's Inc., recognized as the world's largest water sports dealer. Fanning the flames of her legacy, a man-made lake 'Lake Kristi' in Grimesland, North Carolina, named after her, was designed specifically for water skiing. This lake is now the home course for East Carolina University's men's and women's cross country teams.