Amanda Beard

With seven medals to her credit, U.S. swimmer Amanda Beard is the embodiment of the Olympic dream. And considering her jaw-dropping physique and photo spreads in magazines like Maxim and FHM, to many fans she’s not so much a dream as a fantasy come to life.

Beard knows just how much hard work it takes to turn dreams and fantasies into reality. She was only 14 when she dazzled the world by winning two silvers and a gold at the 1996 Games, still a teenager when she took bronze at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and an alluring 22-year-old when she set a new Olympic record in 2004 and arguably became the American face of the Athens Games. Now a model, entrepreneur, and environmental advocate, she’s keeping the dream alive as she aims for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Household name at 14

Born in 1981, Beard grew up in California. When as a 10-year-old she watched Summer Sanders’ inspirational performance at the 1992 Games, she became determined to experience the Olympics herself.

Nobody would have guessed that she’d achieve her goal with the breaststroke. “I was horrible!” Beard laughs. “My form was so bad that it was actually illegal.” Fortunately, a coach realized that the youngster had talent, and once he showed her the correct way to execute the stroke, she was unstoppable. At 13, she made the U.S. team, medalled in the Pan Pacific Championships, and took golds at the U.S. Open and the U.S. Olympic Festival.

During the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Beard did more than live her Olympic dream: she became an icon. A lithe 14-year-old with a grin that seemed bigger than she was, Beard soaked up the atmosphere, teddy bear in tow. The cameras were drawn to her even before she won silver in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and gold as part of the 400m medley relay team. Amanda Beard became a household name, not to mention the second-youngest U.S. swimmer ever to medal at the Olympics.

Underdog at 18

In high school, the swimmer found herself adjusting to a growth spurt. She patiently kept at it, refining her technique and working toward regaining her natural feeling for the stroke. The media forgot about Amanda Beard. Amanda Beard didn’t forget about the Olympics.

With five U.S. swimmers ranked above her, Beard put in an outstanding performance at the 2000 U.S. Trials to make the Olympic team, but few expected her to stand on the podium at Sydney. She proved the naysayers wrong by capturing a bronze medal.

Back, and even better, at 22

When Beard faced the 2004 Olympic Trials as an old pro of 22, expectations were high; yet the athlete calmly surpassed them as she broke her own World Record in the 200m breaststroke, also winning the 100m breaststroke and finishing second in the 200m IM.

Still, at the Athens Games, the media was initially focused on whether phenom Michael Phelps could break Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics. Phelps had an incredible meet, but gradually the cameras began to turn toward a determined beauty with blue eyes and a wicked breaststroke. Not only did Beard win gold in the 200m in Olympic record time, and finish second in the 400m medley relay and 200m IM; but in doing so she broke a 12-year-old American record held by none other than Summer Sanders, the swimmer who had inspired her as a child.

When the swimming events were over, cameras continued to follow Beard for color segments during the Olympic broadcasts. And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Looking forward to 26 – and Beijing

Because Beard’s story and image appeal to both men and women, she finds herself in constant demand for modeling gigs, feature articles, and guest appearances. While some purists were skeptical about her steamy shots for such magazines as Sports Illustrated (the swimsuit issue, naturally) and FHM (where she was named “World’s Sexiest Athlete”), others applauded her for showing that the healthy appeal of an athletic body might just be the sexiest of all.

Beard is flattered when fans equate her looks with those of Angelina Jolie, yet the swimmer would rather be compared to Jolie for the actress’s charity work. She explains, “For example, one of the groups I’m involved with is Defenders of Wildlife. I’m an animal lover, and it’s great working with people who are so passionate about protecting animals and habitats.”

In addition to her volunteer efforts, and serving as a model and design consultant for Speedo, Beard – who studied business at the University of Arizona – is an entrepreneur. “A project that I’m really excited about is my new line of beauty products called Pure Amanda. Keep an eye out for it in stores soon!” she smiles.

And keep an eye out for Amanda Beard when the Olympics are held in Beijing. Despite her many interests, Beard is still training, and she intends to live the dream once more in 2008.

(bio courtesy of amandabeard.net)