Topic: Brooke Bennett

Brooke Marie Bennett (born May 6, 1980 in Tampa, Florida) is an American swimmer with three career Olympic gold medals.

Bennett’s first gold medal came in the 800 meter freestyle race at the 1996 Summer Olympics. This accomplishment, coming days after her grandfather died, was overshadowed by the fact that this was the last race in the career of swimming legend Janet Evans. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, she would win two more gold medals in the 400 meter and 800 meter freestyle races, with the latter coming in Olympic-record time. Her attempt for a third straight Olympic appearance fell short in 2004, following operations on both of her shoulders in 2001. She finished third in the 800m freestyle (with only the top two finishers qualify for the Olympic Team). The Tampa Tribune reported in December 2005 that Bennett was planning an Olympic comeback in 2008, but her bid for a 3rd Olympics came up short.

1920: (300 m) Ethelda Bleibtrey · 1924: Martha Norelius · 1928: Martha Norelius · 1932: Helene Madison · 1936: Rie Mastenbroek · 1948: Ann Curtis · 1952: Valéria Gyenge · 1956: Lorraine Crapp · 1960: Christina von Saltza · 1964: Virginia Duenkel · 1968: Debbie Meyer · 1972: Shane Gould · 1976: Petra Thümer · 1980: Ines Diers · 1984: Tiffany Cohen · 1988: Janet Evans · 1992: Dagmar Hase · 1996: Michelle Smith · 2000: Brooke Bennett · 2004: Laure Manaudou · 2008: Rebecca Adlington