Top 10 Swimmers of all time (Part II)
Jennifer Elizabeth Thompson
One of the most fancied names in the history of world swimming is that of Jennifer Elizabeth Thompson. The legendary swimmer could have won 12 medals from her participation in the four Olympic Games that she has taken part in. What makes her one of the candidates
of the best Olympian swimmer is the fact that she has been able to win 8 gold medals in the Olympic Games. Jennifer did however fail to live up to her own standards that she set in the Pan American Games - a competition that she contended at the age of 14.
When she made her first ever Olympic appearance, she could have clinched 3 medals including 2 gold medals, but unfortunately she was unable to do so.
Krisztina Egerszegi
This great Olympian is a Hungarian swimmer from the era of late 1980’s to the mid of 1990’s. The famous swimmer participated in three Olympic Games and managed to win seven medals out of which fiver were gold. She was popularly known as the Queen of Backstroke
when her athletic career was at its peak. Krisztina holds the world record in the 200 metre backstroke to date. 4 of her gold medals that she won in the Olympic Games were in the backstroke meets. Currently, the athlete is an inductee of the International
Swimming Hall of Fame.
Dawn Lorraine Fraser
Dawn is a great swimmer from Australia and specialises in freestyle events. She holds the record for the first woman to finish a 100 metre meet in less than a minute. Dawn was part of three Olympic Games and a strong contender of 8 Olympic medals including
5 gold medals. In 1965, she went on to become the Australian Swimmer of the Year. Two years later, she was awarded with the Order of the British Empire. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Dawn was one of the torch bearers at the Opening Ceremony. After retiring
from the sport, Dawn turned towards politics in Australia’s domestic setup.
Shane Gould
This great swimmer came from Australia as well. It is not known as to why she retired at a tender age of 16 years, even though she had immense potential and her swimming skills were rare to find in any other swimmer during that time. She participated in
the 1972 Olympic Games in her short athletic career which were held in Munich. The swimmer won five medals in the Olympics, out of which 3 were gold.
When she participated in the Olympic Games, she was only 15. Her tender age and unique swimming skills made her one of the most celebrated swimmers in the history of world. Shane set world records in the 100 metre and 1500 metre freestyle events. Shane Gould
was honoured with the Best Sportswoman in the World award in 1971 along with the Australian Swimmer of the Year. Later she was also awarded the Order of the British Empire and Olympic Order. The number of achievements that Shane made in such a short span of
time is considered a world record in itself.
Kristin Otto
One of the most famous swimmers is German swimming beauty Kristin Otto. Kristin participated in the Olympic Games of 1988 where she proved that her worth. It was during these Olympics that she managed to clinch 6 gold medals. On the basis of her amazing
performances in the Olympic Games, she was named the Female World Swimmer of the Year by the World Magazine. Kristin was adorned with this award thrice during her athletic career.
Such lists’ often create controversy and dispute amongst experts and fans, however these swimmers have been hailed by all and sundry. These athletes are unanimously accepted as legendary swimmers by critics and experts alike.
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