Amanda Beard, the American Olympic Swimmer/Model
Born on the 29th of October 1981 in Newport Beach, California, Amanda Ray Beard is not only an American Olympic level swimmer but also a model. She was a part of the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Summer Olympics. She has been able to strike a total of seven medals. Her most recent achievements have been in the games of 2004. She topped the women’s 200 metre breaststroke world rankings in 2003. Beard’s US National titles include three in 200 metre breaststroke, three 100 metre breaststroke, and 200 metre individual medley. Her personal best include the 100 metre breaststroke that she finished in 1 minute and 7.42 seconds, 200 metre breaststroke in a time of 2 minutes and 22.44 seconds and 200 metre individual medley spanning over a time of 2 minutes and 11.70 seconds.
Her first Olympic participation was in the Atlanta Olympic Games of 1996. Beard was only 14 at that time and was a student at the Irvine High School in Irvine California. Still a shy, young and innocent girl, she soon came into the lime light and attracted media’s attention, especially when she would carry a teddy bear with her to the medal stand. Beard was the second youngest athlete to become an Olympic medallist in the history of American swimming. These three medals, one gold and two silver, were won by her in Atlanta.
Beard’s performance was not commendable in the Summer Olympics 2000 and she only managed to bring home a bronze medal that she won in the 200 metre breaststroke.
In 2001, she was the one to win an individual NCAA Division, while she was attending the University of Arizona. 2 years later, in 2003 she was known as a world champion and record setter of the women’s 200 metre breaststroke.
After a disappointing performance in 2000, Beard did a good job at the US Olympic Swim Trials in 2004. She succeeded to qualify to compete in the four swimming events at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens. She grabbed the gold medal in the 200 metre breaststroke and silver medals in the 200 metre individual and the 4 into 100 metre medley relay in the Athens Olympics.
The 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing was Beard’s fourth consecutive Olympic Games for which she qualified after she finished on the second spot in the 200 metre breaststroke at the US Olympic Swim Trials 2008. Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin and Amanda Beard were nominated as the co-captains to women’s swimming team selected to represent the United States, on 30th of July 2008.
However, unluckily for her, Beard could not make it to the semi finals of the 200 metre breaststroke at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and landed on the 18th place in the preliminaries.
In the 2010 Conoco Phillips National Champions, the returning mother Amanda Beard at the USA Swimming Nationals coached by Frank Busch represented Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics. With the sixth fasted time of 2 minutes, 28.62 seconds in the preliminary round in the 200 breaststroke qualified for the next round. Hoping to improve on this performance, the swimmer gave it her best shot but couldn’t manage better than a second place finish. However, she was disappointed at this position but after bouncing back from an unsuccessful 2008 Beijing Olympics made this finish somewhat special for the swimmer. She managed to do so in 2 minutes and 26.50 seconds. This finish also cements her place in the Pan Pac Team that will be representing the USA swimming team later in the month.
Also competing in the 100 breast stroke, she didn’t manage to anything extraordinary. Beard was able to safely go through the preliminary round after she completed the swim in 1 minute and 8.72 seconds. Again, she managed sixth position in the finals managing a time of 1 minute and 9.12 seconds.
This swimmer is one of those who have a great deal of talent but it’s just that nothing clicks for her at the right time. Even then, she is regarded as one of the best US swimmers and praised by many.
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