The Best Olympic Athletes in Swimming

Updated June 14, 2019 7.5k votes 412 voters 9.6k views

List of the best Olympic athletes in the sport of swimming. Olympians on this list have competed at the Olympic games in swimming. Olympic athletes on this list have made it all the way to the Olympics in their sport and have either won their event or did not even place. But this list isn't just about winners, times, distances and points, it's about who are the public's favorite Olympic athletes in swimming. Olympians on this list have captured the hearts of the public in one way or another, and have led their peers in swimming competitions. Only the greatest swimming Olympic athletes are featured on the front page of this list, so vote for your favorites and let only the best swimming Olympians see the top. Swimming athletes who have competed in the Olympics don't all have what it takes to be called the "best" in their Olympic sport, so vote carefully and make sure that only the true greats get a place on the front page of this list. Examples of athletes on this list include Amaury Leveaux and Brenton Rickard. You may want to copy this fact-based list to build your own just like it, re-rank it to fit your opinions, then publish it to share it with your Facebook friends, Twitter followers or with any other social networks you use regularly. {#nodes}

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Michael Phelps
Age: 33
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1985-06-30
Place Of Birth: Baltimore,United States of America,Maryland
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre individual medley,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 100m butterfly,Men's 400m individual medley,Men's 4x100m medley relay,Men's 4x200m freestyle relay,Men's 200m Freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal
Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American retired competitive swimmer and the... more on Wikipedia
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#1746 of 2,443 The Most Influential People of All Time#152 of 329 The Most Obnoxious Athletes
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Ian Thorpe
Age: 36
Olympic Country: Australia
Date Of Birth: 1982-10-13
Place Of Birth: Sydney,Australia,New South Wales,Earth,Oceania
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Australia
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 100m freestyle,Men's 200m Freestyle,Men's 400m freestyle,Men's 4x100m freestyle relay,Men's 4x200m freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Ian James Thorpe, (born 13 October 1982) is a retired Australian swimmer who specialised in... more on Wikipedia
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Inge de Bruijn
Age: 45
Olympic Country: Netherlands
Date Of Birth: 1973-08-24
Place Of Birth: Barendrecht,Netherlands,Kingdom of the Netherlands,South Holland,Europe
Nationality: Netherlands
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 50m freestyle,Women's 100m freestyle,Women's 100m butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Inge de Bruijn (Dutch: [ˈɪŋə də ˈbrœyn]; born 24 August 1973) is a Dutch former competitive... more on Wikipedia
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Sarah Sjöström
Age: 25
Olympic Country: Sweden
Date Of Birth: 1993-08-17
Place Of Birth: Handen,Haninge Municipality,Stockholm County,Sweden,Stockholm-Mälaren Region
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Sweden
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Sarah Fredrika Sjöström (Swedish: [²ɧøːˌstɾœmː]; born 17 August 1993) is a Swedish competitive... more on Wikipedia
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Pieter van den Hoogenband
Age: 40
Olympic Country: Netherlands
Date Of Birth: 1978-03-14
Place Of Birth: Maastricht,Netherlands,Kingdom of the Netherlands,Limburg,South Limburg
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Netherlands
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 50 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 200m Freestyle,Men's 100m freestyle,Men's 50m freestyle,Men's 4x200m freestyle relay,Men's 4x100m freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
Pieter Cornelis Martijn van den Hoogenband (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈpitɛr vɑn dɛn... more on Wikipedia
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Murray Rose
Dec. at 73 (1939-2012)
Olympic Country: Australia
Date Of Birth: 1939-01-06
Place Of Birth: Nairn,United Kingdom,Europe,Western Europe,Earth
Nationality: Australia
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 400m freestyle,Men's 1500m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 1960 Summer Olympics,1956 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal
Iain Murray Rose, (6 January 1939 – 15 April 2012) was an Australian swimmer, actor, sports... more on Wikipedia
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Britta Steffen
Age: 35
Olympic Country: Germany
Date Of Birth: 1983-11-16
Place Of Birth: Schwedt,Germany,Brandenburg,Europe,Western Europe
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Germany
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 100m freestyle,Women's 50m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
Britta Steffen (born 16 November 1983) is a German competitive swimmer who specializes in... more on Wikipedia

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Katie Ledecky
Age: 21
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1997-03-17
Place Of Birth: Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 800m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is an American competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and... more on Wikipedia
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Libby Lenton
Age: 34
Olympic Country: Australia
Date Of Birth: 1985-01-28
Place Of Birth: Townsville,Queensland,Australia,Earth,Oceania
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Australia
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x200m freestyle relay,Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 100m freestyle,Women's 50m freestyle,Women's 100m butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Lisbeth "Libby" Constance Trickett, OAM (born 28 January 1985), née Lisbeth Constance Lenton,... more on Wikipedia
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Jenny Thompson
Age: 45
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1973-02-26
Place Of Birth: Dover,United States of America,New Hampshire,Strafford County,Seacoast Region
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 100m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
Jennifer Beth Thompson (born February 26, 1973) is an American former competition swimmer and... more on Wikipedia
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Leisel Jones
Age: 33
Olympic Country: Australia
Date Of Birth: 1985-08-30
Place Of Birth: Katherine,Australia,Northern Territory,Earth,Oceania
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Australia
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 100m breaststroke,Women's 200m breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Silver medal,Gold medal
Leisel Marie Jones, OAM (born 30 August 1985) is an Australian former competition swimmer and... more on Wikipedia
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Dana Vollmer
Age: 31
Date Of Birth: 1987-11-13
Place Of Birth: Syracuse,New York,Onondaga County,United States of America
Nationality: United States of America
Dana Whitney Vollmer (born November 13, 1987) is an American former competition swimmer,... more on Wikipedia
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#56 of 238 The Best Female Athletes of All Time#289 of 670 Rank the Sexiest Current Female Athletes
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Krisztina Egerszegi
Age: 44
Date Of Birth: 1974-08-16
Place Of Birth: Budapest,Hungary,Europe,Earth,Central Europe
Nationality: Hungary
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 400 metre Individual Medley
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 100m backstroke,Women's 200m backstroke,Women's 400m individual medley
Olympic Medalist Games: 1988 Summer Olympics,1992 Summer Olympics,1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Gold medal,Bronze medal
Krisztina Egerszegi (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈkristinɒ ˈɛɡɛrsɛɡi]; born 16 August 1974) is a... more on Wikipedia
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Rūta Meilutytė
Age: 21
Olympic Country: Lithuania
Date Of Birth: 1997-03-19
Place Of Birth: Kaunas, Lithuania
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Lithuania
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 100m breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Games: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
Rūta Meilutytė is a Lithuanian swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and world record holder. She is... more on Wikipedia
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Katinka Hosszú
Age: 29
Date Of Birth: 1989-05-03
Place Of Birth: Pécs,Hungary,Baranya,Earth,Europe
Nationality: Hungary
Katinka Hosszú (Hungarian: [ˈkɒtiŋkɒ ˈhossuː]; born 3 May 1989) is a Hungarian competitive... more on Wikipedia
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Laure Manaudou
Age: 32
Date Of Birth: 1986-10-09
Place Of Birth: Villeurbanne,Rhône,Rhône-Alpes,France,Europe
Nationality: France
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 400 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 800 metre freestyle
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 100m backstroke,Women's 400m freestyle,Women's 800m freestyle
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Gold medal,Silver medal
Laure Manaudou (French pronunciation: [lɔʁ manodu]; born 9 October 1986) is a retired French... more on Wikipedia
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Aaron Peirsol
Age: 35
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1983-07-23
Place Of Birth: Irvine,United States of America,California,Orange County
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre backstroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 100m backstroke,Men's 4x100m medley relay,Men's 200m backstroke
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics,2004 Summer Olympics,2000 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal
Aaron Wells Peirsol (born July 23, 1983) is an American former competition swimmer and... more on Wikipedia
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Rebecca Soni
Age: 31
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1987-03-18
Place Of Birth: Freehold,New Jersey,Monmouth County,United States of America,United States
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre breaststroke,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 200m breaststroke,Women's 100m breaststroke
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Silver medal
Rebecca Soni (born March 18, 1987) is an American former competition swimmer and breaststroke... more on Wikipedia
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Mark Spitz
Age: 69
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1950-02-10
Place Of Birth: Modesto,United States of America,California,Stanislaus County
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre butterfly,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre butterfly
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 200m butterfly,Men's 4x100m freestyle relay,Men's 100m freestyle,Men's 200m Freestyle,Men's 100m butterfly
Olympic Medalist Games: 1972 Summer Olympics,1968 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 1968 Summer Olympics,1972 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal,Bronze medal,Silver medal
Mark Andrew Spitz (born February 10, 1950) is an American former competitive swimmer and... more on Wikipedia
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#1181 of 1,816 The Best Athletes Of All Time#2 of 71 The Greatest Jewish Athletes Of All Time
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Ferry Weertman
Age: 26
Date Of Birth: 1992-06-27
Place Of Birth: Naarden, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Netherlands
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Natalie Coughlin
Age: 36
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1982-08-23
Place Of Birth: Emeryville,United States of America,Alameda County,California,San Francisco Bay Area
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre backstroke
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 4x200m freestyle relay,Women's 100m freestyle,Women's 100m backstroke,Women's 200m individual medley
Olympic Medalist Games: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2004 Summer Olympics,2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Silver medal,Bronze medal,Gold medal
Natalie Anne Coughlin Hall (born August 23, 1982) is an American competition swimmer and... more on Wikipedia
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Femke Heemskerk
Age: 31
Olympic Country: Netherlands
Date Of Birth: 1987-09-21
Place Of Birth: Roelofarendsveen,South Holland,Netherlands,Kingdom of the Netherlands,Europe
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Netherlands
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 4x100m freestyle relay,Women's 4x200m freestyle relay
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Gold medal
Frederike Johanna Maria "Femke" Heemskerk (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfɛmkə ˈɦeːmskɛrk]; born 21... more on Wikipedia
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Hayden Stoeckel
Age: 34
Olympic Country: Australia
Date Of Birth: 1984-08-10
Place Of Birth: Kingscliff,Australia,New South Wales,Earth,Oceania
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Australia
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke,Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Men's 100m backstroke,Men's 4x100m medley relay
Olympic Medalist Games: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal,Silver medal
Hayden Ernest Stoeckel (born 10 August 1984) is an Olympic and national record-holding... more on Wikipedia
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Pernille Blume
Age: 24
Olympic Country: Denmark
Date Of Birth: 1994-05-14
Place Of Birth: Herlev, Denmark
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: Denmark
Olympic Games Participant: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Pernille Blume is a Danish swimmer. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed for the national... more on Wikipedia
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Missy Franklin
Age: 23
Olympic Country: United States of America
Date Of Birth: 1995-05-10
Place Of Birth: Pasadena, California, United States of America
Olympic Sport: Swimming
Nationality: United States of America, Canada
Olympic Medalist Event Competition: Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre backstroke, Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay, Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metre backstroke, Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay
Olympic Medalist Event: Women's 100m backstroke, Women's 200m backstroke, Women's 4x100m freestyle relay, Women's 4x200m freestyle relay, Women's 4x100m medley relay
Olympic Medalist Games: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Participant: The London 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Medals Won: Bronze medal, Gold medal
Melissa Jeanette Franklin (born May 10, 1995) is an American former competition swimmer and... more on Wikipedia