Amy Van Dyken's Main Accomplishments Include . . .
Amy Van Dyken is an Olympic champion swimmer with six gold medals to her name. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Van Dyken became the first American female athlete in history to win four gold medals in a single Olympic games. She won gold in the 50 meter free, 100 meter butterfly, 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay, and the 4 x 100 meter medley relay. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Amy Van Dyken won two gold medals in the 4X100 Medley Relay and the 4X100 Freestyle Relay, and placed 4th in the 50 meter freestyle. In addition to her Olympic accomplishments, Amy Van Dyken won several world titles and set numerous American and world records.
Following a doctor's advice, Amy Van Dyken began swimming at the age of six in an effort to relieve childhood asthma. At eleven, she was still unable to swim the length of a pool. When she finely made it, Amy Van Dyken knew she had a strong "will to win." That strength made her a star in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta despite the fact that breathing difficulties limit her to only about 65% of normal lung capacity.
Amy Van Dyken's success in swimming won her a wide variety of awards and accolades. An instant celebrity, she was featured on cover of a Wheaties box and underwater in a Milk Industry ad, photographed by Annie Liebowitz. Amy Van Dyken was named the Associated Press "Female Athlete of the Year", USOC "Sports Woman of the Year", ESPN "ESPY Female Athlete of the Year", the Women's Sports Foundation's "Sports Woman of the Year" and USA Swimming's "Swimmer of the Year". She was also featured as one of Glamour magazine's "Top 10 Women of the Year", named one of "25 Most Influential Females in Sport" by Women's Sports and Fitness magazine and received the ARETE "Courage in Sports" award.
More About Amy Van Dyken . . .
Amy Van Dyken has graced the cover of several newspapers and magazines, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time, Swimming World magazine, and Sports Illustrated. Van Dyken was also a guest on Late Night with David Letterman, the Rosie O'Donnell Show and the Today Show.
Amy Van Dyken was the only American swimmer to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Class of 2007. She was inducted to the Olympic Hall of Fame in July of 2008.
Amy Van Dyken knows American Sign Language is actively involved in a number of charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the United Way. |
