Every four years the summer Olympic Games capture the world's attention. Over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries gather to prove they are the best in their sports. From the first competition held in 1896 to the 2012 London Olympics, the games have hosted some of swimming's greatest victories and toughest defeats. Fans have witnessed Johnny Weissmuller win back-to-back Olympic gold medals before he found fame on the big screen as Tarzan; they have seen Dara Torres defy age to win three silver medals at the age of 41; and they will forever remember Michael Phelps capturing a record eight gold medals at the 2008 games. The Most Memorable Moments in Olympic Swimming relives the sport's greatest moments on its biggest stage. Through careful research and the personal recollections from the athletes themselves, John Lohn has brought together the key performances, top athletes, major controversies, and improbable victories of the games. Organized chronologically, the progression of swimming as an Olympic sport comes to life as the top 25 moments are revealed. The best swimmers in Olympic history are featured throughout, from Mark Spitz and Ian Thorpe to Debbie Meyer and Dawn Fraser. Dozens of photographs highlight the athletes and their shared passion for swimming glory. Detailed appendixes include the top Olympic medal winners by country and by athlete, and a bibliography provides key swimming references for the reader. Swimming fans, coaches, athletes, and researchers will enjoy this history of a sport rich in tradition and spectacular moments.
Chronology Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Welcome the Women Chapter 2: Before He Swung From Vines Chapter 3: The Dawn of Greatness Chapter 4: Meyer's Gold Mine Chapter 5: Seven For Spitz Chapter 6: Hello, and Goodbye Chapter 7: A Matter of Timing Chapter 8: Gulping Down Gold Chapter 9: USA All the Way Chapter 10: Brigitha Breaks Barrier Chapter 11: Political Pawns Chapter 12: Rowdy's Reaction Chapter 13: A Tie Game Chapter 14: The Best of Biondi Chapter 15: Nesty Nets Gold Chapter 16: The Dragon Slayer Chapter 17: A Tale of Redemption Chapter 18: Gold-Medal Guitar Chapter 19: Eric the Eel Chapter 20: A Tie Between Teammates Chapter 21: Race of the Century Chapter 22: An Illegal Kickstart Chapter 23: An Anchor's Way Chapter 24: A Half-Stroke For History Chapter 25: Age is Just a Number Chapter 26: Under Consideration Appendix A: The Olympic Games (Dates/Sites) Appendix B: Most Overall Medals (By Country) Appendix C: Most Gold Medals (Career) Appendix D: Most Medals (Career) Appendix E: Most Gold Medals (Olympiad) Appendix F: Most Medals (Olympiad) Bibliography Index About the Author
