Natalie Coughlin

Natalie Coughlin made her first significant impact in the international swim scene at the 2001 World Championships, where she claimed a gold medal in the 100 backstroke and a bronze in the 50 backstroke. The following year at the Pan-Pacifics, she asserted her dominance by winning six medals, four of which were gold. These wins included individual championships in the 100 free, 100 fly, and 100 back. Although her performance in the 2003 World Championships was less triumphant due to illness, she was the leading female swimmer at the 2004 Olympic Games. There, she obtained five medals, two of which were gold, in the 100-metre backstroke and the 800-metre freestyle relay. Additionally, she won two silvers as a member of the United States' teams in other relay events.

Continuing her career beyond 2004, Coughlin achieved a gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay at the 2005 World Championships. In 2007, she championed in the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle at the Worlds, further securing a gold medal in the 4x2 free relay. At the Beijing Olympics, despite sharing the spotlight with other American swimmers such as Michael Phelps and Dara Torres, she competed in six events and won a medal in each one. Her victories were highlighted by an individual gold medal in the 100 backstroke, making her the first woman to defend this Olympic title. Notably, over the course of three Olympics, she competed in 12 events and won 12 medals, three gold. This achievement has led to Coughlin holding a distinctive Olympic record of competing in the most Olympic events and winning a medal in every one of them, a record she shares with Paavo Nurmi.