Deborah Babashoff (born 1970) is an American former competition swimmer who won a bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle event at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships. Next year she won a silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games in the same event, and in 1989 a national title in the 1500-meter freestyle. Debbie was born to Vera and Jack Babashoff in Whittier, California. Her father had been a swimming instructor in Hawaii and always wanted his own children to become Olympians. Both of her parents is a second-generation Russian American.