Debbie Meyer
Encyclopedia
Deborah Elizabeth Meyer (born August 14, 1952 in Annapolis, Maryland
) is a former American swimmer who won the 200, 400, and 800 m swimming
events at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
. While still a 16-year old student at Rio Americano High School
in Sacramento, California
, she became the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals in one Olympics.
, she broke twenty world records, which landed her in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame
in 1986. She also broke 24 American records and won 19 Amateur Athletic Union
championships.
In 1968, she won the James E. Sullivan Award
. In 1969, she was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year
. In 1972, she retired from competition.
On July 5, 2004 she was inducted into the United States National High School Hall of Fame. In memory of her Olympic achievement she uses the custom car license plate 3GOLD68.
Meyer is married to Bill Weber. She owns the Debbie Meyer Swim School in Carmichael, California
. According to the business website, Meyer has taught swimming in the Sacramento, California
area since the 1970s and opened the school in 1993. Along with teaching children and adults to be safer in the water Debbie is coaching the Truckee Tahoe Swim Team in her hometown of Truckee, California
.
Debbie Meyer has a son, Colin a 21 years old and is currently attending Sierra College in Roseville, California
, and a daughter.
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
) is a former American swimmer who won the 200, 400, and 800 m swimming
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
events at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. While still a 16-year old student at Rio Americano High School
Rio Americano High School
Rio Americano High School, colloquially known as Rio, is an American public high school in Sacramento, California, serving students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the San Juan Unified School District. Brian T. Ginter is the principal...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, she became the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals in one Olympics.
Career
Meyer set world records in 200, 400 and 800 m freestyle events at the Olympics trials. Her winning times at the Olympics were 2:10.5 for 200 m, 4:31.8 for 400 m, and 9:24.0 for 800 m, all of them new [Olympic Records] records. Despite suffering from asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, she broke twenty world records, which landed her in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame
United States Olympic Hall of Fame
The United States Olympic Hall of Fame is an honor roll of the top American Olympic athletes.The Hall of Fame was established by the United States Olympic Committee in 1979; the first members were inducted in 1983. Between 1992 and 2003, the Hall of Fame went dormant, with no induction of new...
in 1986. She also broke 24 American records and won 19 Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships.
In 1968, she won the James E. Sullivan Award
James E. Sullivan Award
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union , is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past...
. In 1969, she was named Associated Press Athlete of the Year
Associated Press Athlete of the Year
The first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press in 1931. At a time when women in sports were never given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award to either a professional or amateur athlete...
. In 1972, she retired from competition.
On July 5, 2004 she was inducted into the United States National High School Hall of Fame. In memory of her Olympic achievement she uses the custom car license plate 3GOLD68.
Meyer is married to Bill Weber. She owns the Debbie Meyer Swim School in Carmichael, California
Carmichael, California
Carmichael is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 61,762 at the 2010 census, up from 49,742 at the 2000 census.-Geography and geology:Carmichael...
. According to the business website, Meyer has taught swimming in the Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
area since the 1970s and opened the school in 1993. Along with teaching children and adults to be safer in the water Debbie is coaching the Truckee Tahoe Swim Team in her hometown of Truckee, California
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
.
Debbie Meyer has a son, Colin a 21 years old and is currently attending Sierra College in Roseville, California
Roseville, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile...
, and a daughter.