Born 1965. Probably the greatest American male swimmer ever. Only man besides Tom Jager to win gold at three different Olympics. Competed at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympic games. His performance at Seoul in 1988 ranks behind only that of Mark Spitz in 1972 at Munich as the greatest ever. At Los Angeles won gold in the 4X100m freestyle relay helping set a world record in the process. At the 1986 World Championships in Madrid, Biondi won seven medals, three gold, a silver, and three bronze. These seven medals were the most ever won at the World Championships. At Seoul in 1988 won gold in the 50m freestyle, the 100m freestyle, the 4x100m freestyle relay, the 4x200m freestyle relay, and the 4x100m medley relay. Won silver in the 100m butterfly, and bronze in 200m freestyle. Won the 100m freestyle and the 4x100m free relay at the Perth world championships in 1991. At Barcelona in 1992 he came in 5th in the 100m freestyle, and won the silver in the 50m freestyle. At those same Olympics he ended his Olympic career by winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Tied with Mark Spitz for most individual Olympic medals by a U.S. male swimmer. Behind only Ray Ewry, Carl Lewis/Mark Spitz for most individual Olympic golds by a U.S. male. United Press International Male Athlete of the Year for 1988. Also competes in water polo. ISHOF 1997.
Special thanks to Ms. Evans for the autographed photo!
Born 1971. The 'queen' of U.S. women's swimming. Competed in Seoul, Barcelona, and Atlanta Olympic games. Won three individual gold medals at Seoul in 1988 in the 400m and 800m freestyle and in the 400m individual medley. Won another gold in the 800m freestyle and the silver in the 400m freestyle at Barcelona in 1992. Next to last person to carry the Olympic torch at Atlanta in 1996. Failed to medal at Atlanta. Winner of the James E. Sullivan Award in 1989. Holds the World record in the 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1500 meter freestyle (as of 08/31/97). These records will probably not be broken for many, many, many years. Won the world championship in the 400m and 800m freestyle at the 1991 worlds in Perth and again won the 800m freestyle at the 1994 worlds in Rome.
Born 1964. Known as 'Madame Butterfly'. Holds world records in 200 meter butterfly (as of 10/26/99) that were set in 1981. Many feel that this record may never be broken. She had also held the record in the 100m fly since 1981 but US swimmer Jenny Thompson broke it at the Pan Pacific Championships in August. Won gold in those events at Los Angeles in 1984 and also won gold in the 400 medley relay. Won a bronze in the 200m butterfly and finished seventh in the 100m butterfly at Seoul in 1988. Like many other swimmers would have won gold at Moscow in 1980 had it not been for the boycott. At the 1982 worlds in Guayaquil, Equador won silver in the 200m butterfly and the 4x100m medley relay. Won gold in the 100m butterfly. At the 1986 worlds in Madrid, Spain won gold in the 200m butterfly. Won silver in the 4x100m free relay, the 4x200m free relay, and the 4x100m medley relay. Won bronze in the 100m butterfly and the 200m freestyle. ISHOF 1993.
Born in 1963. Grew up in the great state of Tennessee! U.S. swimmer who won three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games (individual golds in the 200m medley, 400m medley, and in the 4x100m medley relay). Also finished in fourth in the 100m breaststroke. From 1978 to 1984, won an incredible 48 U.S. national titles, more than any other swimmer. Only swimmer, man or woman, to hold an American record and win a national title in every stroke. Her performance at the 1978 worlds in West Berlin ranks as one of the greatest ever. Won gold in the 200m butterfly, the 200m individual medley, the 4x100m free relay, and the 4x100m medley relay. Won silver in the 100m breaststroke, bronze in the 400m individual medley, and finished in sixth place in the 200m backstroke. Won the James E. Sullivan Award in 1978. 1978 United Press International Female Athlete of the Year. Named swimmer of the decade by USA Today in 1990. Probably would have won some medals at the 1980 Moscow games had the U.S. not boycotted them. Considered by many to be the greatest swimmer ever and is certainly the greatest American female swimmer in history. ISHOF 1990.
Born 1952. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, became the first woman to win gold in three individual events (200m, 400m, & 800m freestyle) and set an Olympic record in each race. Set fifteen world records in 1967 and 1968. Named woman athlete of the year by the Soviet News Agency! Won the James E. Sullivan award in 1968. ISHOF 1977.
The world/American record holder in the 200m breaststroke (as of 08/31/97). Placed fourth in the 200m breaststroke at Seoul in 1988. 1990 NCAA swimmer of the year. Won gold in the 200m breaststroke at Barcelona in 1992 while setting the current world record in this event. ISHOF 1997.
At the 1984 Olympics won silver in the 100m butterfly and silver in the 200m individual medley. At the 1986 world championships in Madrid won gold in the 4x100m medley relay and the 100m butterfly. Failed to qualify for the 1988 Olympics and retired. Made a dramatic comeback in 1991 and made the 1992 Olympic team. At Barcelona won gold in the 100m butterfly and in the 4x100m medley relay. ISHOF 1998.
Born 1950. Won an incredible seven gold medals at Munich in 1972 and set a world record in all seven events (3 relays, 2 in freestyles, and 2 in butterfly). Won 2 golds, a silver, and a bronze at Mexico City in 1968. Attempted a comeback in 1991. Tied with Matt Biondi for most Olympic medals by a U.S. male swimmer. Behind only Ray Ewry for most individual Olympic gold medals ever by a male (tied with Carl Lewis). Known for his cockiness, incorrectly predicted that he would win six golds at Mexico City in 1968. James E. Sullivan Award winner in 1971. 1972 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. ISHOF 1977.
Holds more Olympic medals, (eight), than any other U.S. female swimmer. At the 1972 Munich games, won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Won silver in the 100m freestyle and the 200m freestyle. Finished fourth in the 400m freestyle. At the 1976 Montreal games, won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay, and silver in the 4x100m medley relay. Won individual silver in the 200m freestyle, the 400m freestyle, and the 800m freestyle. Finished fifth in the 100m freestyle. ISHOF 1982.
At the Montreal games in 1976, the U.S. men's swim team won a gold medal in every men's swim event held save for the 200m breaststroke which was won by David Wilkie of Great Britain. And perhaps even more amazing, a new world record was set in every event except the 100m butterfly.
Term (playing off that 80's group, the New Kids on the Block) that referred to five U.S. female swimmers who enjoyed tremendous success in the late 1980's. The original five included Summer Sanders, who swam the butterflies and the IM's, Jenny Thompson, who swam the sprint freestyles, Nicole Haislett, who swam the 100m and 200m freestyle, Janie Wagstaff, who swam the backstroke, and Mary Ellen Blanchard, who swam the breaststroke and the IM's. Julie Kole and Jane Skillman were also considered part of the group. (This information was given to me by Mary Ellen Blanchard!)
One of the most popular female swimmers ever. At the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 won the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly and the gold in the 400m medley relay. Won the silver in the 200m Individual Medley and the bronze in the 400m Individual Medley. Finished sixth in the 100m butterfly. Took home more medals than any other female swimmer from the Barcelona Olympics. Also set American records in the 200m and 400m Individual Medley, records which she still holds as of December 31, 1997. Perhaps best known to non swimming fans for her many appearances on various television shows after her retirement. Attempted a comeback in 1995, but failed to make the 1996 Olympic team. Married to Olympic swimmer Mark Henderson.
(This information was given to me by Mary Ellen herself!) Broke three American records in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1989 (the previous record had been held by Tracy Caulkins) and the 200-yard breaststroke (also breaking the US Open record in the event). An eight time National champion from 1989 to 1991. Member of the 1989 Pan Pacific team, the 1990 Goodwill Games team, and the 1991 World Championship team. Swam for Stanford and helped to win four national team titles. Highest world ranking was third in the 200m individual medley. Still holds the American record in the 200-yard breastroke. Grandfather Doc Blanchard won the Heisman Trophy in 1945.
Born 1972. Became the first American to defeat an East German in the 100m freestyle since the 1972 Munich Olympics at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle. Won gold in the 100m freestyle at the 1991 World Championships in Perth. Won two gold medals at the Barcelona Olympics in the 400m relay and the 200m freestyle, in which she set and still holds the American record (as of 08/31/97).
Born 1973. At the 1999 Pan Pacs Jenny broke Mary T. Meagher's world record in the 100m butterfly! Way to go Jenny! The record had stood since 1981! Congrats to Jenny on winning four golds and a silver at the World Championships in Perth! (Ind. golds in the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly, the first World or Olympic Ind. golds of her career!) Tied with Bonnie Blair for most gold medals in an Olympic career by an American woman. Won three relay golds at the Atlanta Olympic games in 1996 in the 4x100m freestyle relay, the 4x200m freestyle relay, and the 4x100m medley relay. Also won two golds in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays, and a silver, in the 100m freestyle, at Barcelona in 1992. On November 29, 1997, set the world record in the 50m butterfly (short-course meters). As of 08/31/97 holds the American record in the 100m freestyle. Enjoys kickboxing.
Born 1973. Congrats to Amy on winning gold in the 50-meter freestyle at the World Championships in Perth! U.S. swimmer from Colorado who won four gold medals at the Atlanta games, the most gold medals ever won at a single Olympics by an American woman. Won individual gold in the 50m freestyle and the 100m butterfly. Finished fourth in the 100m freestyle. Won relay gold in the 4x100m medley relay and in the 4x100m freestyle relay. At the 1994 World Championships in Rome won the bronze in the 50m freestyle. Holds the American record in the 50m freestyle, which she set at the Atlanta Olympic games. Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year for 1996. Appeared on a Wheaties cereal box after the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games. Is quoted as saying "This one is for the nerds," after winning the 50-meter freestyle.
Born 1976. At the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 won gold in the 4x100m relay, silver in the 100m breaststroke, and bronze in the 200m breaststroke. Her first name is Nadia and she was named after legendary Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci, whom her father watched compete on television while awaiting Anita's birth.
Born 1967. Won a bronze in the 50m freestyle and a gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics won bronze in both the 100-meter butterfly and the 100m freestyle. Also won gold at Atlanta in the 4x100m medley and 4x100m freestyle relays. Perhaps best remembered for giving one of her medals to a friend who was sick with cancer.
Born in 1890. Died 1968. Member of the Hawaiian Royal family who won three golds and two silvers over the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Olympic games. Played water polo. A pioneer in the sport of surfing. Introduced the crawl stroke to America. Later became the sheriff of Honolulu. All in all, a really cool guy. ISHOF 1965.
Born 1908. Died 1983. Gold medal swimmer in 1932 in the 400-meter freestyle who went on to star as the title character in the early 'Flash Gordon' serials. Also starred in some 'Tarzan' movies, although not as many as Johnny Weismuller. Appeared in dozens of films throughout his acting career. Only non-Japanese male swimmer to win a gold medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. ISHOF 1965.
Born 1904. Died 1984. Won 3 golds at 1924 Olympics and 2 more at the 1928 games. Held an incredible number of world records. Perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of the lead role in several Tarzan movies. Never lost a race. One of the greatest swimmers of all time. ISHOF 1965.
Born in 1956. At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal won gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke, 4x200m free relay, and the 4x100m medley relay, setting a world record in each event. Also won silver in the 200m freestyle. Won the James E. Sullivan Award in 1977. ISHOF 1982.
Born 1946. Won 3 gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Won a gold and a silver at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. James E. Sullivan Award winner in 1964. ISHOF 1965.
Born 1968. Finished fifth in the 200m butterfly at the Seoul 1988 Olympics. Defeated Michael 'Albatross' Gross of Germany to win gold in the 200m butterfly at Barcelona in 1992. Also won a gold in the 400m medley relay and a bronze in the 800m relay. He placed fifth in the 100m butterfly. Attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. (I bring this up only because I attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Gotta root for one of our own, even if he is from North Carolina.)
(Mr. Popov's bio written and provided to me courtesy of A. Widjaja.) Aleksandr Popov is the epitome of the dedicated swimmer. Born in 1971, he has achieved everything there is to achieve in the world of swimming. He is a current Olympic champion, World Champion, European Champion, world record holder - the list goes on. The 100m and 50m freestyle are Popov's main events and he holds the world record in the 100m freestyle (48.21 seconds). This dedicated Russian is also undefeated in the 100m freestyle and has been undefeated since 1991. This consistency, however, has been hindered by several obstacles. Not only do new competitors keep coming up to challenge his dominance in the sprint events, Popov has had to come back from a stabbing incident after the 1996 Olympics which saw him out of training for almost 6 months.
Now living in Australia, where he trains at the AIS under long-time coach, Gennadi Touretski, Popov is in top form. His next goal? Sydney 2000, where he hopes to defend his 100m and 50m freestyle crown for the third Olympic Games in a row (he won in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996) at the age of 28. In 1993 he said, "If you can win one Olympics you become famous, if you win two Olympics you become great and if you win three, you become history." However, in the hearts and minds of all his
supporters around the world, he has already attained that status.
