Swimming | Page 2 of 3 | U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

Don Schollander

Swimmer Don Schollander won four gold medals at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, the most by an American in a single Olympics in 28 years. He won three more in the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

John Naber

At the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, John Naber won four gold medals: 100- and 200-meter backstroke, 4x100-meter medley relay, 4x200-meter freestyle relay -- all in world-record time.

John Morgan

A competitive swimmer, John Morgan lost his eyesight as a teenager, but eventually got back in the pool to won 15 Paralympic medals, 13 of them gold.

Debbie Meyer

16-year-old Debbie Meyer overcame asthma and set Olympic records in the 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyle as she won three gold medals at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

Mary T. Meagher

Mary T. Meagher set her first world record before she began high school and Madame Butterfly, as she was known, won three gold medals at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

Helene Madison

"Queen" Helene Madison was one of the first American female swimming stars, winning two individual gold medals and the 4x100-meter freestyle relay gold at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games.

Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku introduced a powerful style of swimming, winning five medals (three gold) over three Olympic Games. He then became a surfing ambassador to the world.

Gary Hall Jr. was known for his showman-like nature and his fast speeds in the pool. Often arriving in a patriotic robe and boxing shorts, Hall won 10 Olympic medals, five gold, over three Olympic Games.

Rowdy Gaines

"Swimming's Greatest Ambassador," Rowdy Gaines tried lots of other sports before falling in love with swimming and winning three gold medals at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

Janet Evans

Janet Evans competed in three Olympics and won four gold medals. She will never forget passing the torch to Muhammad Ali to light the Olympic Flame at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

Sport: Swimming