Frank Thomas

Notable Sports Figures
new American record. The win earned Van Dyken the
title of world’s fastest female swimmer. She told the
press, “This victory is for all the nerds out there. For all
the kids who are struggling, I hope I’m an inspiration
for them to keep plugging away.”
Van Dyken’s four Olympic gold medals made her an
overnight superstar. She was named Sportswoman of the
Year by both the Associated Press and the U.S. Olympic
Committee. She received a visit from U.S. President Bill
Clinton and made numerous television appearances. Her
gold medal wins put her in the category of Olympic greats
Janet Evans, Florence Griffith-Joyner, and Melissa Belote,
each of whom won three gold medals in an Olympics.
Road to a Second Olympics
After Atlanta, Van Dyken took some time off for a
honeymoon with then husband Alan McDaniel and
earned money from product endorsements. But she soon
resumed training and won two gold medals at the World
Swimming Championships in Perth, Australia, early in
1998. That June, however, she had the first of two shoulder
surgeries to repair injuries and a bone spur. After the
second surgery in January 2000, doctors told her she
would never swim competitively again. She proved
them wrong.
Van Dyken qualified for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney,
Australia, and there won two more gold medals-one
as part of the women’s 400-meter freestyle relay and the
other for her performance in swimming preliminaries of
the 400-meter medley relay. On her team in the 400
freestyle were Americans Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres,
and Courtney Shealy. The team broke the world record
for the event, with a time of 3:36.61 (the former record,
3:37.91, was set by a Chinese team in 1994). Van Dyken
placed fourth in the 50-meter freestyle race, which she
had won in 1996.
After bringing home her sixth Olympic gold medal,
in the fall of 2000, Van Dyken announced her retirement
from swimming. By the following year, however, she
had turned her attention to a new sport, the triathlon,
which combines swimming, biking, and running in what
can be the most grueling of sports. She competed in
triathlons beginning in June 2001, with the possible goal
of competing in the Hawaiian Ironman-a 2.4-mile ocean
swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run-in 2003.
Amy Van Dyken has proved that athletic ability and a
drive to succeed can help overcome many physical obstacles.
In 2000 she participated in an asthma education
campaign, the Asthma All-Stars, cosponsored by five
medical and respiratory organizations. An outcast in her
own early high school years, she has also been active in
helping the survivors of the 1999 Columbine (Colorado)
High School shootings, participating in school events
and talking one-on-one with students. Her four gold
medals and record-breaking 50-meter race in the 1996
Van Dyken Is Toughing It Out
Olympics put Van Dyken into the Olympic history
books. Her spunk and competitive drive have won many
fans and supporters along the way, and they continue to
cheer her on in her quest for victory in the triathlon.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: c/o U.S. Swimming, Inc., 1 Olympic Plaza,
Bldg. 2A, Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5770.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Books
Great Women in Sports. “Amy Van Dyken.” Detroit:
Visible Ink Press, 1996.
Newsmakers 1997. Issue 4. “Amy Van Dyken.” Detroit:
Gale Group, 1997.
Sports Stars. Series 1-4. “Amy Van Dyken.” Detroit:
U•X•L, 1994-98.
Periodicals
“Amy Van Dyken: Winner of 4 Gold Medals in Swimming
in the Olympics Enjoys Post-Olympics Fame.”
People (December 30, 1996): 152.
Harris, Stephen. “Van Dyken Is Toughing It Out: U.S.
Swimming Star Shows Nose for Winning—and a
Heart for Healing—As She Makes Comeback.”
Boston Herald (May 28, 2000): B2.
“Olympic Notebook: Van Dyken Says This Is Last
Games; Swimmer: Body Starting to Wear Down.”
Seattle Times (September 1, 2000): D12.
Other
Van Dyken
[Amy] Van Dyken, who hopes to make it back from major shoulder
injuries ..., has raised the pre-race psyche-job to an art form. She will do
just about anything she can think of within legal limits—or nearly so—to
distract and demoralize foes just before the start of races. The imposing 6footer
will grunt, spit into the opponents’ lane, stick out her tongue at them,
clap her hands or simply lock on with a cold, Mike Tyson-style stare.
Source: Harris, Stephen. Boston Herald (May 28, 2000): B2.
“Amy Van Dyken Returns to the Water.” USA Swimming.
http://cgi.swimmersworld.com/news/ (July 10,
2001).
“‘Asthma All-Stars’ Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Amy Van
Dyken and Jerome Bettis to Appear in New Asthma
Education Campaign.” PR Newswire. http://galenet.
galegroup.com/ (June 28, 2000).
“Olympic Wrap Up.” Compiled from usswim.org. The
Victor.com. http://www.thevictor.com (January 21,
2003).
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