SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – An Olympic gold medal swimmer who became a university coach and administrator will receive more than $3.5 million in the settlement of a gender discrimination lawsuit against the University of California, Berkeley.

Karen Moe Humphreys worked at the school from 1978 until being laid off in 2004. She sued, saying she lost her job in retaliation for complaining about the treatment of women by the university’s athletic department.

The university denied the allegations and made no admission of liability in the settlement.

Under the deal, Humphreys will be reinstated and then retire early next year when she reaches 30 years with the university, the UC Board of Regents agreed Thursday.

“I am really thrilled to be reinstated, and I am happy to recover most of our legal costs,” Humphreys said. She also will receive back pay and benefits dating to the time she was laid off.

Humphreys won a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)