Matt Biondi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Matt Biondi

Personal information
Nickname(s)	"Matt," "The California Condor"
Born	(1965-10-08) October 8, 1965 (age 59) Moraga, California, U.S.
Height	6 ft 7 in
Weight	209 lb
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, butterfly
College team	University of California, Berkeley
Coach	Nort Thornton
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 8 2 1 World Championships (LC) 6 2 3 Pan Pacific Games 13 3 2 Summer Universiade 4 1 0 Total 31 8 6 Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1988 Seoul 50 m freestyle Gold 1988 Seoul 100 m freestyle Gold 1988 Seoul 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1988 Seoul 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1988 Seoul 4×100 m medley Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m medley Silver 1988 Seoul 100 m butterfly Silver 1992 Barcelona 50 m freestyle Bronze 1988 Seoul 200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 1986 Madrid 100 m freestyle Gold 1986 Madrid 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1986 Madrid 4×100 m medley Gold 1991 Perth 100 m freestyle Gold 1991 Perth 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1991 Perth 4×100 m medley Silver 1986 Madrid 100 m butterfly Silver 1991 Perth 50 m freestyle Bronze 1986 Madrid 50 m freestyle Bronze 1986 Madrid 200 m freestyle Bronze 1986 Madrid 4×200 m freestyle Pan Pacific Games Gold 1985 Tokyo 50 m freestyle Gold 1985 Tokyo 100 m freestyle Gold 1985 Tokyo 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1985 Tokyo 4×100 m medley Gold 1987 Brisbane 100 m freestyle Gold 1987 Brisbane 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1987 Brisbane 4×100 m medley Gold 1987 Brisbane 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1991 Brisbane 100 m freestyle Gold 1991 Brisbane 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1991 Brisbane 4×100 m medley Gold 1991 Brisbane 100 m butterfly Silver 1985 Tokyo 200 m freestyle Silver 1987 Brisbane 50 m freestyle Silver 1991 Brisbane 50 m freestyle Bronze 1985 Tokyo 100 m butterfly Bronze 1987 Brisbane 100 m butterfly Summer Universiade Gold 1985 Kobe 100 m freestyle Gold 1985 Kobe 200 m freestyle Gold 1985 Kobe 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1985 Kobe 4×200 m freestyle Silver 1985 Kobe 100 m butterfly

Matthew Nicholas Biondi (born October 8, 1965) is a famous American swimmer and water polo player. He is known for winning many medals at the Summer Olympics. Matt Biondi earned a total of eleven Olympic medals, including eight gold, two silver, and one bronze. He also set several world records in swimming.

Biondi competed in the Olympics in 1984, 1988, and 1992. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he won five gold medals and set new world records. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He is also in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

Matt Biondi's Early Life

Matt Biondi grew up in Moraga, California. He started swimming and playing water polo when he was young. As a teenager, his amazing speed in sprint swimming became clear.

He didn't swim all year until high school. But by his senior year in 1983, he was the best high school sprint swimmer in America. He set a national record in the 50-yard freestyle.

College and International Swimming Career

Starting College Swimming

Matt Biondi received a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the swim team under Coach Nort Thornton. He also played water polo for Coach Pete Cutino.

In his first year (1983-1984), he helped Berkeley's water polo team win a national championship. In swimming, he placed well in the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle events. He also helped his relay teams finish high at the 1984 NCAA Swimming Championships.

1984 Los Angeles Olympics

In the summer of 1984, Matt Biondi surprised many by making the U.S. Olympic team. He qualified for the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

At the Los Angeles Olympics, Biondi swam the third part of the relay. He helped the U.S. team take the lead. The U.S. team won the gold medal. They also set a new Olympic and world record.

College Success After the Olympics

After his Olympic success, Biondi continued to shine in college. In 1985, he won the 100 and 200-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships. He set new NCAA and American records in both events. He also helped his relay teams win.

In 1986, he won the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle events. He set more NCAA and American records. He was a top scorer at the NCAA meet. In his final college season (1987), he won these three events again. He broke his own records.

Overall, Biondi won eight individual NCAA titles. He was part of six winning relay teams. He was named the NCAA Swimmer of the Year three times. He also earned All-American honors in water polo four times. His Cal Water Polo teams won NCAA Championships in 1983, 1984, and 1987.

International Swimming Highlights (1985–1988)

Matt Biondi set his first individual world record in 1985. He was the first man to swim the 100-meter freestyle in under 49 seconds. He held the world record for almost nine years.

He won 24 U.S. Championships in various freestyle and butterfly events. At two World Championships (1986 and 1991), he won 11 medals, including six gold. He was named the Swimming World magazine Male Swimmer of the World twice.

In August 1985, Biondi broke the 100-meter freestyle world record twice in one day. He swam 49.24 seconds, then 48.95 seconds. The next day, he set an American record in the 200-meter freestyle.

Later that month, at the 1985 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, he won two individual gold medals. He also won three more gold medals with American relay teams. Two of these relay teams set new world records.

In June 1986, he improved his 100-meter freestyle world record to 48.74 seconds.

At the 1986 World Aquatics Championships in Madrid, Biondi won seven medals. This included three gold, one silver, and three bronze. He won gold in the 100-meter freestyle. He also won gold in two relay events.

In 1987, Biondi won four gold medals at the 1987 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. He won the 100-meter freestyle and three relay events.

Before the 1988 Olympics, Biondi qualified for seven events. He set his fourth world record in the 100-meter freestyle (48.42 seconds).

1988 Seoul Olympics

At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Matt Biondi had an incredible performance. He won five gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. He set four world records and one Olympic record.

• 200-meter freestyle: Biondi won a bronze medal.
• 100-meter butterfly: He won a silver medal. He missed gold by just one-hundredth of a second.
• 4×200-meter freestyle relay: Biondi anchored the team to a gold medal. They set a world record. He swam the fastest part of the race. This started his streak of five gold medals in five days.
• 100-meter freestyle: He won his first individual Olympic gold. He set a new Olympic record.
• 4×100-meter freestyle relay: The American team won gold with another world record.
• 50-meter freestyle: This was the first time this event was in the Olympics. Biondi won gold and set a world record.
• 4×100-meter medley relay: Biondi swam the butterfly part. The team set another world record and won gold.

For his amazing achievements in 1988, Biondi received many awards. He was named the United Press International Athlete of the Year. He was also the US Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year.

1992 Barcelona Olympics

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Biondi won two more gold medals. These were in relay events. He also won a silver medal in the 50-meter freestyle. After these Olympics, Biondi retired from swimming.

World Championships Success

Matt Biondi competed at the World Championships in 1986 and 1991. He won six gold medals in total.

In 1986, he won seven medals at one World Championship meet. This was a record at the time. Later, Michael Phelps matched this record. Caeleb Dressel later broke it with eight medals.

Matt Biondi's Personal Life

Matt Biondi graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988. He earned a degree in Political Economy.

He has three children: Nathaniel (Nate), Lucas, and Makena. His son Nate also swam for UC Berkeley.

Matt Biondi earned a master's degree in education in 2000. He has worked as a school teacher and swimming coach. As of 2012^[update], he teaches math and coaches at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles.

Biondi is also involved in masters swimming. This is for adult swimmers. He started an annual competition called the Matt Biondi Masters Classic.

See also

In Spanish: Matt Biondi para niños

• Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• List of multiple Olympic medalists at a single Games
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
• List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
• List of University of California, Berkeley alumni
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay
• World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
• World record progression 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay