Amy Van Dyken

Amy Van Dyken
Van Dyken in 2017
Personal information
Full nameAmy Deloris Van Dyken-Rouen[1]
National team United States
Born (1973-02-15) February 15, 1973 (age 51)
Englewood, Colorado, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight163 lb (74 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly, freestyle
College teamUniversity of Arizona
Colorado State University
CoachJonty Skinner and John Mattos
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 1998 Perth 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1998 Perth 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1998 Perth 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1994 Rome 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1994 Rome 4×100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Rome 50 m freestyle
Pan Pacific Championships
Gold medal – first place 1995 Atlanta 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1995 Atlanta 4×100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1995 Atlanta 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1995 Atlanta 4×100 m medley
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1995 Mar del Plata 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 1995 Mar del Plata 4×100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 1995 Mar del Plata 4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 1995 Mar del Plata 100 m freestyle

Amy Deloris Van Dyken-Rouen (born February 15, 1973) is an American former competitive swimmer, Olympic champion, former world record-holder, and national radio sports talk show co-host. She won six Olympic gold medals in her career, four of which she won at the 1996 Summer Olympics, making her the first American woman to accomplish such a feat and the most successful athlete at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She won gold in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 4×100-meter freestyle relay, and 4×100-meter medley relay.

Van Dyken had severe asthma throughout her childhood and into adulthood. She began swimming on the advice of a doctor as a way to strengthen her lungs to cope with her condition and prevent future asthma attacks.

She was named Swimming World's American Swimmer of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

On June 6, 2014, Van Dyken was injured in a serious ATV accident that severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.

  1. ^ Jhabvala, Nicki (May 2015). "DEFYING THE ODDS How Greg Roskopf, an Englewood-based muscle function specialist, is helping Amy Van Dyken-Rouen get back on her feet – literally". Denver Post. Retrieved June 26, 2015.