Kyle Salyards, a 1999 Hempfield graduate, swam for the United States at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was a decorated swimmer at all levels. He finished sixth in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:13.77 at the Sydney Games. He won a gold medal in that event at the 2003 Pan American Games , finishing in 2:13.37, a record for the event at the time.
Salyards was an 11-time All-American while swimming at the University of Georgia. He was the Southeastern Conference champion in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2002 and 2003. He medaled at the SEC Championships 7 times.
At Hempfield, Salyards was a four-year letter winner who earned 5 gold medals at the PIAA Championships. He was a three-time state champion in the 200-yard individual medley, establishing a new PIAA record each time he won the event. He also won the 500 freestyle once, was on Hempfield’s state championship 200-yard medley relay once and placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke twice. He was named the Outstanding Swimmer at the state meet in 1997.
Salyards was inducted into the Susquehanna Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He is a charter member of the Hempfield Athletic Hall of Fame.