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Amanda Beard
She shaved half a second off the world record in the 200m breaststroke, shwoing that she will be a threat for her first gold.
Born: October 29, 1981
Country: United States of America
Weight: 54.4 kgs
Height: 173 cm
Event: Swimming (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke, 200m IM)
Olympic Records:
1996 Atlanta Games: 2nd in 100, 200m, 4x100 relay
2000 Sydney Games: 3rd in 200m breaststroke
Other Records:
2003 World Championship: 1st in 200m breaststroke (WR), 2nd in 100m breaststoke, 2nd in 4x100m Relay
2002 World Championship: 2nd in 400 MR
2000 World Championship: 2nd in 400 MR
1997 World Championship: 2nd in 400 MR
Amanda Beard at the US Olympics Trial stunningly shaved a half second off the world record in the 200-metre breaststroke, showing that she will be a threat for her first individual gold at the Games. The 22-year-old from nearby Irvine, California, finished the race in 2 minutes 22.44 seconds, beating the world mark of 2:22.96 set just three days earlier by Australia's Leisel Jones.
She became a fan favorite at the 1996 Olympic Trials by swimming fast and carrying an adorable teddy bear to the blocks for each race. Amanda is the second-youngest gold medallist in USA Swimming history, Pokey Watson was younger than Amanda in 1964 winning the 400m free relay gold at 14 years and 96 days old. 32 years later, Beard won her first Olympic gold, swimming on the medley relay.
She had arrived and appeared to be at the beginning of what had all the makings of one of the most successful careers in swimming history. But then, as soon as she appeared to arrive, she was gone – at least in the eyes and cameras of the media. “I just didn't let it become my entire life” was the reason given by her for the disappearing act.
The she came back after attended the University of Arizona and competed for the Trials for the Sydney Olympics and finished second in the 200m breaststroke and a month later she won the bronze at the Olympics.
