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Beijing 2008
Munz, Diana

The Short List
  • Two-time Olympian (2000, 2004)
  • 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the 800m freestyle
  • 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 800m freestyle relay, silver medalist in the 400m freestyle
  • 21-time U.S. National champion - second only to Jenny Thompson who has 26 U.S. National titles
Did You Know?
  • Went from fourth to third in the last 50 meters of the 800m freestyle at the 2004 Olympics
  • Moved from fourth to second place in the final 100 meters of the 400m freestyle at 2000 Olympic Games to win silver medal
  • Posted the fastest split on the gold medal-winning 800m free relay at 2000 Olympic Games
  • Won a total of six World Championship medals at three meets (1998, 2001, 2003) ... two golds in the 800m freestyle relay, three silvers in the 800m freestyle and a bronze in the 400m freetyle
  • Won four gold medals at the 2002 Pan Pacific Championships
  • Two-time Kiphuth Award winner for high points at the 2000 and 2002 U.S. Spring Nationals
  • Withdrew from 1999 Pan Pacific Championships team after injuring her back in a car accident
  • Munz hated swimming when she started, but her older sisters, Camie and Ryan, bribed her with candy to get her in the pool
  • Her parents, Carol and Robert, are former ice dancers who competed at the Olympic Games when ice dancing was an exhibition sport
  • Owns two dogs: Splash, a golden retriever, and Backstroke, a black Labrador
  • Carries two stuffed animals when she travels - Eeyore from "Winnie the Pooh," and Spell, a snow lion she got after her first spelling bee
It's Every Day

Munz, who swims 15,000 to 17,000 meters a day, acknowledges there is a rivalry between her and Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett, but she says she considers Bennett a friend. Munz shared a victory lap with Bennett at the 2000 Olympics when Bennett won gold and Munz won silver in the 400m freestyle to the tune of Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" "Definitely a good song for us," Munz said at the time.

Quote

On finishing third in the 800m freestyle at the 2004 Olympics: "I really wanted to achieve a medal going into it. I’ve had a long week coming up to this race so I was very happy. I really wanted a best time and a medal and I’m coming away with a medal so I’m very happy with that."


Height: 5' 4
Born: 6/19/1982
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Resides: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Sport: Swimming
Event: 400m, 800m, 1500m freestyle

 
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