Debbie Meyer

With victories in the 200, 400, and 800 metre freestyles in 1968, Debbie Meyer of the United States became the first woman swimmer to win three individual gold medals at one Olympic Games. She won each event by a large margin and achieved her unique Olympic treble despite the fact that she was handicapped by a severe upset stomach in Mexico City. Between 1967 and 1970 she set 15 world records, one at 200 metres, five at 400 metres, five at 800 metres, and four at 1,500 metres. Her other titles included the Pan-American Championships in 1967 at both 400 and 800 metres, the AAU 400 and 1,500 metres each year from 1967-70, and the AAU 400 metre individual medley in 1969. She retired after the 1970 season, only 18 years old, and was felt not to have approached her true potential as a distance swimmer. Meyer later became the owner/operator of the Debbie Meyer Swim Schools in and around Sacramento, California.