Amy Van Dyken facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Amy Van Dyken

Van Dyken in 2017
Personal information
Born	(1973-02-15) February 15, 1973 (age 52) Englewood, Colorado, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	163 lb
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Butterfly, freestyle
College team	University of Arizona Colorado State University
Coach	Jonty Skinner and John Mattos
Medal record Women's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta 50 m freestyle Gold 1996 Atlanta 100 m butterfly Gold 1996 Atlanta 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1996 Atlanta 4×100 m medley Gold 2000 Sydney 4×100 m freestyle Gold 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley World Championships (LC) Gold 1998 Perth 50 m freestyle Gold 1998 Perth 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1998 Perth 4×100 m medley Silver 1994 Rome 4×100 m medley Silver 1994 Rome 4×100 m freestyle Bronze 1994 Rome 50 m freestyle Pan Pacific Championships Gold 1995 Atlanta 50 m freestyle Gold 1995 Atlanta 4×100 m freestyle Silver 1995 Atlanta 100 m freestyle Silver 1995 Atlanta 4×100 m medley Pan American Games Gold 1995 Mar del Plata 100 m butterfly Gold 1995 Mar del Plata 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1995 Mar del Plata 4×100 m medley Silver 1995 Mar del Plata 100 m freestyle

Amy Deloris Van Dyken-Rouen (born February 15, 1973) is a famous American swimmer. She is an Olympic champion and a former world record holder. Amy won six Olympic gold medals during her swimming career.

Four of her gold medals were won at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. This made her the first American woman to win so many gold medals at one Olympics. She was also the most successful athlete at those Games. Amy won gold in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, and two relay races.

Amy had severe asthma when she was a child and even as an adult. Doctors told her to start swimming to make her lungs stronger. This helped her deal with her asthma and prevent attacks.

She was named Swimming World magazine's American Swimmer of the Year in both 1995 and 1996. In 2014, Amy was in a serious accident that left her unable to move her legs.

Becoming an Olympic Swimmer

Amy Van Dyken tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in 1992. She placed 4th in the 50-meter freestyle, just missing a spot on the team. After high school, Amy went to the University of Arizona. She later moved to Colorado State University.

At Colorado State, she set her first U.S. record in 1994. This was for the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA championships. She also finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard freestyle. In 1994, she was named the NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year. After college, she trained full-time at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was getting ready for the 1996 Olympics.

Amy's Olympic Journey

Winning Big at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Amy Van Dyken made history. She became the first American woman to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games. Her amazing success in swimming earned her many awards.

She received the ESPN ESPY Award for Female Athlete of the Year. Swimming World magazine also named her Female Swimmer of the Year. Amy was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. She was also named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

Amy was featured in many magazines like Glamour, USA Today, Newsweek, Time, and Sports Illustrated. She also appeared on popular TV shows.

Competing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics

Amy continued to swim after the 1996 Olympics. However, she faced many injuries, including a shoulder injury. This injury needed several surgeries and kept her from training for over a year. Despite this, she made a great comeback.

She qualified for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Amy won two more gold medals. These were in the 4×100 medley relay and the 4×100 freestyle relay. She also placed 4th in the 50-meter freestyle. This brought her total Olympic gold medals to six! Amy is one of the few Olympians whose medals are all gold.

Life After Competitive Swimming

After the 2000 Olympics, Amy Van Dyken stopped competing in swimming. She married Tom Rouen, a former football player. They live in both Colorado and Arizona.

Amy also tried competing in triathlons. In 2001, she finished a triathlon in Colorado. It included swimming, biking, and running. She also coached the varsity swim team at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 2007, Amy was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008. Amy has also worked as a radio sports talk show host. She was a co-host for Fox Sports Tonight until 2013.

Amy is involved in many charities, like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She and her husband host an event each year to raise money for young people.

ATV Accident and Recovery

On June 6, 2014, Amy Van Dyken was in a very serious ATV accident. The accident caused a severe injury to her spinal cord. This injury left her unable to move her legs.

She was awake when help arrived and was taken to a hospital by helicopter. She had emergency surgery to help her spinal cord and back. The injury was very close to a major blood vessel, but she was lucky it wasn't damaged.

After two months of recovery, Amy left Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. She said, "I'm a better person than before the injury." With the help of a walker and a special device, she was able to take her first steps.

See also

In Spanish: Amy Van Dyken para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
• World record progression 50 metres butterfly
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay