American swimmer Amy Van Dyken is a six-time Olympic gold medalist whose four-gold haul in Atlanta made her the most successful athlete in those Games and the first American woman to win that many golds in a single Olympiad.
Van Dyken first tried out for the U.S. Olympic team to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, but just missed qualifying after finishing fourth in the 50m freestyle. But soon after, she began making a name for herself in the collegiate swimming circuit, even breaking a world record in the process. She eventually made the Olympic team to 1996 Games, where she won golds in the 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 4x100 medley relay and 4x100 freestyle relay to become the only athlete - male or female - to win four gold medals in Atlanta.
Injury slowed down her preparations for the Sydney Olympics, but Van Dyken still managed to again win golds in the two relay events while finishing fourth in the 50m freestyle.
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