Janet Elway: How Well Do You Know Her?

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Janet Elway is popularly known as the ex-wife of the great football star John Elway. Janet is a former swimmer who led her college to its first national women’s swim titles in 1980.

People still address her as Janet Elway, not as Janet Buchan even after the divorce from her husband John Elway.

Janet Elway in a black dress smiling for the camera
Janet Elway In A Black Dress Smiling For The Camera (Source: Denverpost.com)

After the retirement, the couple headed off on their road. They both got remarried to someone else and have a new love in their life after being together for 18 long years.

What happened between the two? What caused them to divorce after such a long time?

Let’s find out in this article, beginning with some quick facts.

Janet Elway | Quick Facts

Full Name Janet ‘Buchan’ Elway
Birth Date 17 February 1961
Birth Place Seattle, Washington, United States
Current Residence Colorado, United States
Nick Name None
Religion Christianity
Nationality American
Ethnicity Caucasian
Education Woodrow Wilson High School
Stanford University
Horoscope Aquarius
Father’s Name Not Available
Mother’s Name Not Available
Siblings Not Available
Age 63 Years Old
Height 6 feet (1.82 meters)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg)
Hair Color Blonde
Eye Color Black
Build Slim
Profession Swimming
Marital Status Not Known
Ex-Husband John Elway, Kevin Kretzmar
Net Worth $500,000
Last Update March 2024

Janet Elway | Early Life

The former wife of John Elway was born on 17 February 1961. Janet was born and raised in the city of Seattle, Washington. Information regarding her parents and siblings is still under wrap.

Janet attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington. The school is now known as Silas High School.

Following her high school education, she joined Stanford University located in, as the name suggests, Stanford, Washington. Janet majored in Sociology and got her bachelor’s degree from the college in 1983.

Janet Elway | Career And Achievements

During her time at Stanford college, Janet was an excellent swimmer. She was fond of swimming back then.

She won multiple major swimming contests and led her college to the 1980 national women’s swim title. That was the first national women’s swim title the college got to taste the victory.

Janet enjoyed a successful swimming career in college, bagging different high-class titles along with six state championships.

The six state championships were: Two in the relay, two in the 500-yard freestyle, and two in the individual medley.

Moreover, she won the 400-meter Individual Medley (IM) at Mexico’s 1979 World University Games.

At the time, Janet was the national record holder for the 400-meter IM. She was also a high-point winner in the AIWA (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) meet.

Janet was listed in the Hall of Fame for Pacific Northwest Swimming and Tacoma-Pierce County Sports in 2005.

Janet Elway
Janet Elway In 2015 Volunteer Award (Source: Invisible Disabilities Association)

Besides swimming, Janet is also fond of philanthropy. She began a fundraiser program named Janet’s Camp to support the YMCA summer camps.

Moreover, she involves herself in numerous volunteering projects for several non-profit organizations based in Denver.

Janet Elway | Net Worth

Janet Elway’s net worth is estimated at around $500,000.

The source of her net worth is speculated to be her swimming career and the money she got in the divorce settlement.

Janet Elway and John Elway
Janet Elway and John Elway Walking Together (Source: Sports Illustrated)

On the other hand, her ex-husband John Elway’s net worth was $145 million at the time of their separation. John Elway currently works as a General Manager and President of Football Operations for the NFL Denver Broncos.

Her ex-husband Kevin Kretzmar earned around $110,000$180,000.

Read more about John Elway’s net worth, house, lifestyle, and more.

John Elway

Early life

John Elway was born on 28 June 1960. He was born and raised in Port Angeles, Washington, alongside his two sisters.

From an early age, Elway was obsessed with football; he would wear out an average pair of sneakers every month as he played extensively.

Even before joining high school, he had all the talent needed to be a great player. He was accurate and had a great sense of the game.

John Elway
John Elway In His Youth (Source: Sports Illustrated)

I love John a lot, but it wasn’t fun playing with him as he took everything so seriously,” commented his sister, Jana. “He was just so competitive. Even back then“, Jana reported to the Denver Post.

Moreover, Elway’s father, Jack, was aware of his talents and, thus, decided to mature his abilities by training him in the backyard.

John’s father would not even let him go on trips, while his two sisters would because Jack did not want John to get injured.

Achievements

Elway’s most notable achievement is winning two consecutive Super Bowls in which he played an important role. Many fans agree that John Elway was one of the leading players during “The greatest Super Bowl game ever“.

In 1998, Elway led his team to a 31-24 victory over the greatly predicted winner Green Bay Packers.

Most viewers and football fans speculated that the Denver Broncos (John Elway’s team) would lose as they were the weakest team in comparison.

John Elway
John Elway Resting (Source: Denver Broncos)

But John Elway came to the rescue and led the team to victory like a motivational sports movie. The Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego was filled with fans chanting “Elway” repeatedly.

The following year in 1999, he again led his team to the Super Bowl title. He was entitled the Most Valuable Player for his tremendous and untiring effort.

In 1983, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts but was traded to the Denver Broncos, for whom he played for 16 years.

You might be interested in reading about the 15 greatest NFL players of all time.

The Marriage And Divorce

 Despite having a great college career, Janet did not get much news coverage until she married John Elway, then Denver Broncos quarterback.

The two started dating when they were studying at Stanford. In 1984, a year after Janet graduated from Stanford, she and her then-partner, John Elway, decided to marry.

Janet Elway with her ex-husband, John Elway, at their wedding day
Janet Elway With Her Ex-Husband, John Elway, At Their Wedding Day (Source: Playerswiki.com)

The marriage was kept limited to only a handful of guests. The pair stayed together for about a decade before separating in 2002; the divorce was finalized the following year, in 2003.

During their time together, the couple gave birth to four children; two sons, Jordan and Jack, and two daughters, Juliana and Jessica. 

The reason for the divorce is not specified, but some claim that John’s tight schedule ruined their relationship in the long run.

After separating from his wife Janet Elway, John married Paige Green.

Son Of Janet Elway Accused Of Domestic Violence

Jack, one of her sons, was accused of domestic violence against his girlfriend.

Reports state he was arrested in 2014 for alleged violence against his then-girlfriend. The former couple verbally abused each other during a car ride until things got rough and physical.

Jack’s girlfriend hurt her knee in the process. He was arrested by the authority but was released upon bail by Janet’s ex-partner John. His bail was set at $550.

Jack shared the same name as his grandfather. Unfortunately, Jack did not live up to his grandfather’s name.

Like her mother, Jessica Elway studies at Stanford University, whereas Jordan studies at Virginia University. Furthermore, Juliana and Jack attend Cherry Creek High School.

Janet Elway | Second Marriage

After their divorce, Janet found another love. She got along and married the former president of Safe Money Inc, Kevin Kretzmar. At the time, Kevin was a financial advisor for NTB Financial.

The new couple emerged in February 2010 while attending “Love Letters,” a theatric drama by Cherry Creek Theater production.

In 2011 Janet and Kevin announced their engagement. The couple dated for a year until Kevin showed the courage to propose.

Janet Elway and her ex-husband Kevin
Janet Elway And Her Ex-Husband Kevin Kretzmar (Source: Denverpost.com)

Furthermore, the couple announced their marriage over a dinner Party hosted by the Mizel Museum, celebrating its 2011 Community Enrichment Award.

According to some sources, the couple has already separated ways, and Kevin has moved on to a new love. Kevin Kretzmar and Patricia Dennard were engaged in 2020.

On the flip side, Janet prefers to keep her relationships as private as possible. As a result,  new information about her relationship has not surfaced in the media.

John Elway | Social Media Links

Janet Elway is not available on any social media platforms. Janet believes in maintaining a life away from the limelight.

But, on the other hand, her famous footballer ex-husband John Elway has a couple of social media accounts. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by John Elway (@johnelway)

(Note: The data available above are as of November 2022).

Popularity Graph

Janet Elway, the former wife of John Elway, was searched on Google.

Janet Elway
Janet Elway Popularity Graph (Source: Google)

She came into the limelight after marrying renowned football player John Elway. Moreover, after more than a decade, they went their separate ways.

Frequently Asked Questions|FAQs

How old is Janet Elway?

Janet Elway was born on 17 February 1961; she is now 63 years old.

Did Janet go through surgery?

Janet Elway was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease back in 1998. Her colon surgery was successful, and she made a full recovery in a short period.

However, she reportedly spent only a few days at the Rochester-based Mayo Clinic.

How old is Paige Green John Elway’s wife?

Paige Green Elway was born on 11 September 1975.

Currently, she is 48 years old, which makes her 15 years younger than John Elway.

How old is John Elway’s?

The former NFL player, John Elway, was born on 28 June 1960.

He is now 63 years old.

You might be interested in reading about Deshaun Watson’s wife and kids.

Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah is an engineer and content writer passionate about sports and athletics. With a background in engineering and a love for all things active, Sanjib brings a unique perspective to the world of sports writing. Whether he is covering the latest trends in sports technology or sharing tips on improving your game, Sanjib's words are always rooted in a deep appreciation for players' hard work and dedication everywhere. In his free time, you can find him hitting the courts or hitting the trails, always looking for new ways to challenge himself and improve his skills.

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