About

Amanda Beard was just 14 years-old the first time she made an appearance in the Olympic Games and walked away as the second youngest swimmer in history to medal with one gold and two silvers. Over the course of the next twelve years she would be the recipient of eight USA Swimming National Titles, hold the FINA World Record and World Champion title for the 200-meter breaststroke, make three more appearances in the Olympic Games–accumulating another gold, two more silvers and a bronze–and serve as the USA Olympic Swimming Team Captain twice, thus carving her name deeply into the face of sports history.

Almost eclipsing her incredible athletic achievements, Amanda’s celebrity status has allowed her to enjoy immense success as a brand representative as well as a nonprofit advisor and has frequently put her in the spotlight as a model and correspondent for print and television media outlets worldwide. She has graced the pages of countless sports and lifestyle magazines and been a guest and host on numerous national TV shows.

Amanda became a first time co-author in 2012 with the release of the autobiographical New York Times Bestseller In the Water They Can't See You Cry. She used the personal recount as an opportunity to share aspects of her life previously kept private and in doing so managed to connect deeply with a new audience. She currently shares her story of professional and personal triumph via motivational speaking engagements and passes on her swimming expertise via clinics and private lessons.

Amanda’s most recent entrepreneurial endeavor is as Co-Founder of Beard Swim Co., a learn-to-swim program with a philosophy that the ability to swim is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. Keeping kids water safe is a mission that has become even closer to Amanda’s heart since having children of her own. She is married to photographer Sacha Brown, with whom she has a son Blaise and a daughter Doone.

SWIMMING AChieveMENTS

1996 ATLANTA OLYMPIC GAMES
• Gold Medal / 400 Medley
• Silver Medal / 200m Breast
• Silver Medal / 100m Breast

2000 SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES
• Bronze Medal / 200m Breast

2004 ATHENS OLYMPIC GAMES
• Gold Medal / 200m Breast
• Silver Medal / 200m Individual Medley
• Silver Medal / 400m Medley Relay
• Swim Team Captain

2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES
• Swim Team Captain

2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
• Gold Medal / 200 Breast
• Silver Medal / 100 Breast
• Silver Medal / 400 Medley Relay

1997 SHORT COURSE WORLDS
• Silver Medal / 400 Medley Relay

2002 SHORT COURSE WORLDS
• Silver Medal / 400 Medley Relay

2004 SHORT COURSE WORLDS
• Silver Medal / 200 Breast
• Silver Medal / 400 Medley Relay

1995 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
• Bronze Medal / 200 Breast
• Bronze Medal / 100 Breast
• Silver Medal / 400 Medley Relay

2002 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
• Gold Medal / 200 Breast
• Gold Medal / 100 Breast
• Silver Medal / 400 Medley Relay

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Recipient of eight National Titles

WORLD RECORD HOLDER

WOMEN'S 200 METER BREAST
• July 25, 2003 (tied) – July 10, 2004
• July 12, 2004 – July 29, 2005

AWARDS

2003 + 2004 SWIMMING WORLD
American Swimmer of the Year

2004 GOLDEN GOGGLES
Female Race of the Year

2008 UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA HALL OF FAME
Inductee

2018 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME
Inductee / Honor Swimmer

7-Time Olympic Medalist Amanda Beard standing poolside. — © John Segesta

SPOKESPERSON / ADVISORY WORK

Aqua Sphere
Athena
Budweiser
Cheribundi
EarPro
Maytag
Mission Athletecare
Oakley
Oroweat
Penta
Red Bull
Softcup
Speedo

Hope Floats Foundation
PETA
CDC
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Defenders of Wildlife
Safe Kids
Swim Across America
World Waterpark Asssociation
WildAid (PSA)
The Muppets (PSA)
The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection

CO-AUTHOR

New York Times Bestseller In the Water They Can’t See You Cry

CO-FOUNDER

BEARD SWIM CO. • The Pacific Northwest’s Premier Learn to Swim School
MISSION • Cooling Gear for an Active Lifestyle

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of Southern California (USC)
University of Arizona (U of A)
Orange Coast College
Manhattan College
Binghamton University
Children's Hospital of Orange County
MultiCare Health System
New England Women in Banking

Disney
ESPN
VISA
Phillips 66
Bed Bath & Beyond
Barnes and Noble
Mutual of Omaha
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
DICK's Sporting Goods

MEDIA APPEARANCES

TELEVISION
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Late Show with David Letterman
Last Call with Carson Daly
Good Morning America*
Today*
Dr. Phil
Celebrity Wife Swap
Marie (Osmond)
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
The Girls Next Door
FOX Sports / The Best Damn Sports Show Period*
The O’Reilly Factor*
The Kelly File
FOX News
FOX Business
Jim Rome is Burning
CNN
ESPN The Body Issue
New York Daily News
Real World
Access Hollywood*
Entertainment Tonight*
Pac 12 Network*

PRINT / WEB
Vanity Fair
Elle
Cosmopolitan
Harper’s Bazaar
Marie Claire
People
Outside / Cover Appearance
In Style
New York Times
Sports Illustrated Kids
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
ESPN The Magazine
FHM / Cover Appearance
Maxim
Shape
Self
Health & Fitness
Fitness
Women’s Fitness
Men’s Fitness
On Fitness
Triathlete / Cover Appearance
Hers