Illustrated History of Olympic Swimming

2000 - The USA women won all three gold medals at the Sydney games; on those relays was Jenny Thompson, the best US swimmer to never earn an Olympic gold! The US came out on top in the medal count with 14 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze, with Australia in second with 18 medals. Pieter van den Hoogenband claimed the 100/200 free double, while Gary Hall, Jr. and Anthony Ervin tied for gold in the 50 free. The USA's Lenny Krayzelburg won both back events, and Italy's Domenico Fioravanti won the breaststrokes. The men's free relays were a sight to see as the USA tried to overcome the Aussie but came up short both times. Inge de Bruijn (Netherlands) took the 50/100 free and 100 fly golds; Brooke Bennett (USA) won the distance double (400/800 free), Diana Mocanu (Romania) won the 100/200 backstroke, and Yana Klochkova won the 200/400 IM double. In a "swim for the ages" Misty Hyman (USA) won the 200 fly; The Aussie crowd was shocked into silence by her efforts. She had been an "underwater" flyer, swimming most of the race submerged; the rules changed and she was able to adapt.

2004 - Athens was another good Olympics for the USA men, taking 9 of 16 medals(the USA women won 3 gold medals). Pieter van den Hoogenband (Netherlands) repeated int he 100 free, while Gary Hall Jr. (USA) took the 50 free again. Ian Thorpe (Australia) won the 200/400 free. Aaron Peirsol (USA) won the 100/200 back double and Japan's Kosuke Kitajima won the breast double. What's left - the 100/200 fly and 200/400 IM - Michael Phelps, USA showing Olympic Greatness (plus two relay golds). For the women, only Yana Klochkova (Ukraine) won two individual golds (200/400 IM).