When was amanda beard born

Considering her young age—she was the second-youngest swimmer in American history to win an Olympic medal—it is not surprising that her beloved teddy bear accompanied the breathtaking breaststroker throughout these high pressure meets.

She was soon to become a fixture on the Olympic scene, making the Olympic team and earning a bronze in the breast at the Sydney Games. As Beard matured, the teddy bear was less prevalent, but her skills as a world class breaststroker were front-and-center.

In she became the American record holder and world champion in the m breast. Beard would break that record again at the U. Olympic Trials. She went on to win that same event at the Olympic Games in Athens. Athens was a particularly good Games for Beard; she also won silver medals in the IM and as part of the medley relay where her breaststroke split would have won her that coveted individual gold medal.

Explore all Athletes. Latest Blog Posts. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson joined The case of MS Dhoni is very special, otherwise th Copy Link Close. Kindly log in to use this feature. Log In Now Sign Up for free. This website stores cookies to provide more personalized services to you.

To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy Privacy Policy. She is a former world record holder in the meter breaststroke long course. Beard's success has earned her the American Swimmer of the Year Award twice. She has won a total of twenty-one medals in major international competition, five gold, thirteen silver, and three bronze spanning the Olympics, the World Championships, the Pan Pacific Championships, and the Summer Universiade.

She was often photographed clutching her teddy bear, even on the medal stand. Beard has the distinction of being the second-youngest American Olympic medalist when she won three medals—a gold and two silvers. At the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Beard won a bronze a medal in the meter breaststroke.

Beard attended the University of Arizona, where she competed for the Arizona Wildcats swimming and diving team. In , she became the world champion and American record-holder in the meter breaststroke. At the U. Olympic Swim Trials, she qualified to participate in four events at the Summer Olympics and broke the world record in the meter breaststroke. She would win a gold medal in the meter breaststroke. Her split in the medley relay was the fastest out of the eight competing Olympic Swim Trials, Beard finished second in the meter breaststroke event, and she qualified for her fourth consecutive Olympics.

On July 30, , at the U. Olympic women's swimming team. Beard's older sisters, Leah and Taryn, had joined a local swim program, piquing their little sister's interest. When five-year-old Beard told her family she would swim in the Olympics one day, her parents just smiled.