|
Amanda Beard
- Seven-time Olympic medalist, swimming in three Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004); plans to compete in Beijing
- In 2004, won the 200m breaststroke title and finished second in the 400m medley relay and 200m individual medley, breaking Summer Sanders' 12-year-old American record
- In 1996, at 14, earned a gold medal in the medley relay and swept the silver medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke … in 2000, completed an inspirational comeback with a bronze medal in the 200m breast.
- World record-holder in the 200m breast; American record-holder in the 100m, 200m breast and 200m IM
- Generated a tremendous amount of publicity prior to the Athens Olympic Games with photo shoots with FHM (appearing on the cover with Logan Tom), Men's Fitness, and elsewhere
- Became a fan favorite at the 1996 Olympic Trials by swimming fast and carrying an adorable teddy bear to the blocks for each race.
- The second-youngest gold medalist in USA Swimming history … only Pokey Watson was younger than Amanda in 1964 winning the 400m free relay gold at 14 years and 96 days old. Just 32 years later, Beard won her first Olympic gold, swimming on the medley relay
- Five-time U.S. national champion.
- Set an American record in the 200m breast (25-meter format) during a World Cup in 2002
- Currently resides in Tucson with her two dogs, two fish and attends the University of Arizona studying Retail and Consumer sciences.
- Involved in protecting endangered species … and modeling.
- Jumped on the scene in 1995 at 13, breaking a few local meet records of Tracy Caulkins, one of the greatest swimmers of all-time.
On the 1996 Olympic experience: "When I look back on it, it's fuzzy - like a dream. I can't really remember everything; it's just like a childhood memory to me. I didn't know too much about what was going on, I just kind of swam. Sure, there was publicity going on about me being so young, and it's really weird to be 14 and have all that stuff happening to you, but then again, you're so young and childish you sort of blow it off."
Related Links
Photo gallery: Post-Olympics: Ballgames, award shows and more
Photo gallery: Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard
Video: Beard on being confident hi | lo
Official Web site: Amanda Beard
On training for the 2000 Games: “I wanted to show everybody that … that I stuck through it. And if you follow your dreams and your heart, then it's possible. It kind of sounds a little like a gushy story, but for me it was real."
|
Height: 5'9
Born: 10/29/1981
Hometown: Irvine, Calif.
Resides: Tucson, Ariz.
Sport: Swimming
Event: 100m, 200m breast; 200m IM
|
|
|
