Hall of Fame

Amy Van Dyken

Swimming

Olympian in Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

Born:
February 15, 1973
Birthplace:
Denver, Colorado
College:
University of Arizona
Colorado State University

hall of fame

Amy Van Dyken

Swimming

Olympian in Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

Born:
February 15, 1973
Birthplace:
Denver, Colorado
College:
University of Arizona
Colorado State University
Swimmer Amy Van Dyken overcame asthma to win six Olympic gold medals. In the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, she became the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.
SHARE

Some people are born natural athletes. Amy Van Dyken’s path to greatness started when she was diagnosed with asthma when she was 18 months old.

A few years later, at age 6, doctors suggested that Van Dyken try swimming as a way to manage her asthma, which can make breathing difficult. It was hoped that swimming would help Van Dyken control her breathing and strengthen her lungs, thus making it easier for her to deal with her asthma.

“Because of my asthma I couldn’t swim the length of the pool until I was 12,” Van Dyken said.

“It was something that I loved and I never really aspired to be a great swimmer. I just kept doing what I loved to do and kept improving every year.”

Van Dyken narrowly missed qualifying for the 1992 Barcelona Games, finishing fourth in the 50-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Two years later, as a senior at Colorado State University, she was named the NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year. Van Dyken then trained full time for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, where she became the first American female to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.

Van Dyken took gold in the 4×100-meter medley and freestyle relays. She then scored an upset in the 100-meter butterfly, winning that race for the first time in a major competition. With three gold medals already in hand, Van Dyken was relaxed as she sped to gold in the 50-meter freestyle – needing just one breath to go the length of the pool – winning by just three one-hundredths of a second.

After the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Van Dyken continued training, with her sights set on the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Shoulder injuries hampered her ability, though, and limited her to swimming only freestyle. She finished fourth in the 50-meter freestyle, but swam a leg on the gold-medal winning 4×100-meter freestyle and earned another gold medal by swimming preliminary heats in the 4×100-meter medley relay as the American entry went on finish first in that event.

Following her swimming career, Van Dyken forged a career in broadcasting. An 2014 accident on an all-terrain vehicle left her paralyzed from the waist down.



MEDAL RESULTS
1996Atlanta50m FreestyleGold
1996Atlanta100m ButterflyGold
1996Atlanta4x100m Freestyle RelayGold
1996Atlanta4x100m Medley RelayGold
2000Sydney4x100m Freestyle RelayGold
2000Sydney4x100m Medley RelayGold

TICKETS NOW

ON SALE

DISCOUNTS FOR MILITARY, FIRST RESPONDERS, SENIORS, GROUPS AND MORE!​
RELATED GALLERY
connect with us
NEXT UP
One of the best swimmers who has ever competed for Team USA, Natalie Coughlin won 12 medals over the course of three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012).
David Kiley competed at five Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball, track and field, and alpine skiing. He won a total of 13 Paralympic medals.
Michelle Kwan sits as the most decorated figure skater – male or female – in the United States, having won 43 championships.
Swimmer Trischa Zorn-Hudson is the most successful athlete in the history of the Paralympic Games, having won 55 medals, including 41 gold medals, over seven Paralympics.
Skip to content