Brooke Bennett

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Olympic medal record
Competitor for  United States
Women's swimming
Gold	1996 Atlanta	800 m freestyle
Gold	2000 Sydney	400 m freestyle
Gold	2000 Sydney	800 m freestyle

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 -- the top two finishers qualify for the Olympic Team. The Tampa Tribune reported in December of 2005 that Bennett was planning an Olympic comeback in 2008.

[edit] External links

• Profile from USA Swimming
• Brooke Bennett's U.S. Olympic Team bio

Olympic champions in women's 400 m freestyle

1924: Martha Norelius | 1928: Martha Norelius | 1932: Helene Madison | 1936: Rie Mastenbroek | 1948: Ann Curtis | 1952: Valeria Gyenge | 1956: Lorraine Crapp | 1960: Christina von Saltza | 1964: Virginia Duenkel | 1968: Debbie Meyer | 1972: Shane Gould | 1976: Petra Thuemer | 1980: Ines Diers | 1984: Tiffany Cohen | 1988: Janet Evans | 1992: Dagmar Hase | 1996: Michelle Smith | 2000: Brooke Bennett | 2004: Laure Manaudou

Olympic champions in women's 800 m freestyle
1968: Debbie Meyer | 1972: Keena Rothhammer | 1976: Petra Thuemer | 1980: Michelle Ford | 1984: Tiffany Cohen | 1988: Janet Evans | 1992: Janet Evans | 1996: Brooke Bennett | 2000: Brooke Bennett | 2004: Ai Shibata