Dede Trimble Griesbauer started her athletic career as a swimmer. She led Stanford University to an NCAA Championship in 1992 and accumulated 10 NCAA All-American honors along the way. She swam for the U.S. National Team between 1989 and 1994 and won the 200-meter backstroke at the Pac Pacific Championships in 1989 and 1991. She competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1998 and 1992, and just missed qualifying for the Olympic team in the 200-meter backstroke in 1992.