Amanda Beard
Olympic medal record
Women's swimming
Gold 1996 Atlanta 4x100 m medley relay
Silver 1996 Atlanta 100 m breaststroke
Silver 1996 Atlanta 200 m breaststroke
Bronze 2000 Sydney 200 m breaststroke
Gold 2004 Athens 200 m breaststroke
Silver 2004 Athens 200 m individual medley
Silver 2004 Athens 4x100 m medley relay
Amanda Ray Beard (born October 29, 1981, Irvine, California) is an American
Olympic swimmer and model.
Beard made her first Olympic appearance at the 1996 games at the age of 14.
She won silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststrokes, and a
gold in the medley relay. Her young-teen manner captured the attention of
the media, and she was often photographed clutching her teddy bear which
joined her on the medal stand. She won a bronze medal in the 200-meter
breaststroke at the 2000 Games. Amanda attended the University of Arizona
where she captured an individual NCAA National Championship in 2001.
In 2003 she became the world champion and world record holder in the 200m
breaststroke. She also made a good showing at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Swim
Trials, and she competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, where she won a gold
medal in the 200-meter breaststroke, her first individual gold medal. She
also won a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley, and she finished
fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Amanda has won eight United States titles (3 times both in 200m breaststroke
and 100m breaststroke, plus 2 times in 200m individual medley). She was 1st
in world ranking of 200m breaststroke in 2003.
Her modelling work through photos in swimwear, including bikinis, have been
in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition She is a spokesperson for
Defenders of Wildlife, and she enjoys interior decorating. Both of her
sisters, Leah and Taryn, are swimmers. Amanda placed eighth in the Toyota
Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity car race in 2006.
Beard dated South African swimmer Ryk Neethling for nearly six years, but
that relationship ended in the Spring of 2005. She is well-known among
stockcar racing circles, after dating several of the drivers. Her
relationship with Nextel Cup Series driver Carl Edwards ended in April of
2006.
Beard was featured on the cover of the September 2004 issue of FHM magazine
that was titled the "Sexy Olympic special". Alongside Beard were pro
volleyball player Logan Tom, pro track stars Amy Acuff and Jenny Adams, and
fellow pro swimmer Haley Cope. Amanda was featured on the cover and an
inside pictorial for the August 2006 issue of FHM, which also named her the
world's sexiest athlete on the cover.[1]
Amanda posed for the July 2007 issue of Playboy. She was featured on the
cover and in a nude pictorial. ESPN article
Personal bests
Beard's personal bests in long-course meters are:
* 100m breaststroke: 1:07.42
* 200m breaststroke: 2:22.44 (2nd Fastest Swimmer in event)
* 200m individual medley: 2:11.70
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