Matt Biondi

Matt Biondi is recognized as one of the most accomplished competitive swimmers in history. As one of the most decorated U.S. Olympians, Biondi earned 11 Olympic medals and set 12 individual swimming world records during his career. While attending the University of California, Berkeley, he competed in both water polo and swimming, breaking individual NCAA and American records seven times and earning the title of NCAA Swimmer of the Year three times. At Berkeley, Biondi became the first swimmer in more than 50 years to sweep the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle races at the NCAA Championships, repeating the achievement the following year.

Biondi won his first Olympic gold medal as part of the United States' 4×100-meter freestyle relay team at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At the World Championships in Madrid, he earned seven medals—three gold, one silver, and three bronze—the most ever won at a single World Championships at that time. Entering the Seoul Games, Biondi was the first man to swim the 100-meter freestyle in under 49 seconds and held the world record in that event for nearly nine years.

In Seoul, Biondi won seven medals: gold in the 50-meter freestyle with a world record, gold in the 100-meter freestyle with an Olympic record, gold in the 800-meter freestyle relay with a world record, gold in the 400-meter freestyle relay with a world record, gold in the 400-meter medley relay with a world record, silver in the 100-meter butterfly, and bronze in the 200-meter freestyle. In the 100-meter butterfly, Biondi finished second by one one-hundredth of a second to Anthony Nesty of Suriname. He went on to win gold in his remaining events, setting world records in four. Biondi became only the second person in Olympic history to win seven medals at a single Games and was the most decorated athlete of the Seoul Games.

At the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Biondi won two more gold medals in relays and a silver in the 50-meter freestyle. Along with Mark Spitz and Carl Osburn, he is one of only three U.S. athletes to win 11 Olympic medals. Biondi's career honors include being a James E. Sullivan Award finalist, UPI Sportsman of the Year, USOC Sportsman of the Year, and twice named Swimming World Male Swimmer of the World. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

After retiring from international swimming, Biondi became a motivational speaker and earned a master's degree in education at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He has worked as a school teacher and swimming coach in Hawaii and has served as head coach for the Shasta College Knights men's and women's swim and dive teams. Biondi is an advocate for youth development, working with organizations such as Special Olympics and the Missing Children's Foundation. He is also involved in marine conservation efforts, collaborating with the Humane Society as a spokesperson for dolphin and marine life. Biondi's career in competitive swimming, Olympic achievement, and commitment to education and advocacy have established his enduring influence in the sports and youth development communities.