In 1996, Amy Van Dyken became the first American woman to win four gold medals in one Olympics; she won two individual medals and two relay medals. She swims freestyle and butterfly. Amy started swimming when she was six years old because her doctor told her it would help her asthma. Amy couldn't even swim the length of a pool until she was twelve years old.

When she finely made it, Amy knew she had a strong "Will to win." To the delight of her American fans, that strength made her a winner in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Courtesy of USA Swimming http://www.usaswimming.org

2000, by John, third grade