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Hall of Fame

Matt Biondi

Swimming

Olympian in Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

Born:
October 8, 1965
Birthplace:
Moraga, California
College:
University of California, Berkeley
Lewis & Clark College
Hall of Fame Class:
2004

hall of fame

Matt Biondi

Swimming

Olympian in Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

Born:
October 8, 1965
Birthplace:
Moraga, California
College:
University of California, Berkeley
Lewis & Clark College
Hall of Fame Class:
2004
Matt Biondi was a late bloomer before finding his stride and leaving his mark as one of the most accomplished swimmers of all time, with eight Olympic gold medals, two silvers and one bronze.
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Matt Biondi was somewhat of a late bloomer. As a 5-year-old in his first-ever race, Biondi had two false starts and then lost his swimsuit upon diving in the pool. Biondi did not swim year-round until he reached high school.

However, by his senior year at Campolindo High in Moraga, California, Biondi was making his mark. He set a national high school record in the 50-meter freestyle (20.4 seconds) and earned a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley to swim and play water polo. As a freshman, Biondi played on the Golden Bears’ NCAA championship water polo team and advanced to three consolation finals at the NCAA swimming championships.

The following year, in 1984, Biondi was a surprise qualifier for the U.S. 4×100-meter freestyle relay team and captured his first gold at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

But even with an NCAA championship and an Olympic gold medal, Biondi was only scratching the surface for what would come next.

Biondi’s final three years at Cal brought eight NCAA individual teams and he swam on six NCAA-winning relay teams, as well as two more NCAA championship water polo teams. He was named the NCAA Swimmer of the Year three times and to the All-American College Water Polo teams in each of his four seasons of competition.

Still, that just laid the groundwork for what was to come at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.

Biondi started slow, taking bronze in the 200-meter freestyle. Then he finished second in the 100-meter butterfly (when he was out-touched by one one-hundredth of a second) before helping the Americans win gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay and 4×200-meter freestyle relay. The next three days also were gold medal days for Biondi: in the 100-meter freestyle, the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and finally the 50-meter freestyle.

It was an amazing eight days that saw Biondi capture five gold medals, one silver and one bronze, with one individual world record (50m freestyle) and all three relays and an Olympic record in the 100-meter freestyle.

Biondi returned to The Olympics at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, helping the Americans win gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay and 4×100 freestyle relays and taking silver in the 50-meter freestyle.

Following the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, Biondi retired from international swimming and became a motivational speaker. He now works as a teacher and swim coach.



MEDAL RESULTS
1984 Los Angeles 4x100m Freestyle Relay Gold
1988 Seoul 50m Freestyle Gold
1988 Seoul 100m Freestyle Gold
1988 Seoul 4x100m Freestyle Relay Gold
1988 Seoul 4x100m Medley Relay Gold
1988 Seoul 4x200 Freestyle Relay Gold
1988 Seoul 100m Butterfly Silver
1988 Seoul 200m Freestyle Bronze
1992 Barcelona 4x100m Freestyle Relay Gold
1992 Barcelona 4x100m Medley Relay Gold
1992 Barcelona 50m Freestyle Silver

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