Mary T. Meagher
Encyclopedia
Mary Terstegge Meagher Plant (born October 27, 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky) is an Olympic champion and former World Record holding swimmer
from the United States
. In 1981 she bettered her own existing World Records in the 100m (57.93)
and 200m butterfly (2:05.96)
: these marks stood as the respective World Records for 18 and 19 years, and are considered to be among the greatest sports performances ever.
in the butterfly
at the age of 14 in 1979 at the Pan American Games
. She completed her education at the Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, alongside her sister Anne Northup
, who gained fame as a member of the US House Representatives. Also, Mary T. Meagher is a Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscientist.
in Moscow, Russia. However, Meagher, along with the rest of the United States Olympic team, never got her chance due to American-led boycott of the Olympics
.
However, in 1981 Meagher gave one of the most memorable performances in competitive swimming at the U.S. Swimming
National Championships held in Brown Deer, Wisconsin
in 1981. At the meet, Meagher set world records in both the 200 meter and 100 meter butterfly, the two primary distances at which the butterfly is contested in competitive swimming. The times for both records were considered astonishing, especially the record of 57.93 seconds that Meagher set in the 100 m—a drop of over a second. Both times would stand as the World Record for nearly two decade
s: American swimmer Jenny Thompson
lowered the 100 m record in 1999, while Susie O'Neill of Australia
set the record in the 200 m a year later. Some have argued that Meagher's records in the butterfly were among the most impressive records ever set in sport, let alone swimming, ranking among such noteworthy records as Bob Beamon
's long jump
world record in 1968. These two swims led "T" to being named Female World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine
, which she again won in 1985. She swam collegiately for the University of California, Berkeley
, graduating in 1987 with a BA
in Social Sciences.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California
Meagher won gold medal
s in both the 100 m and 200 m butterfly races, along with another gold by swimming the butterfly leg of the women's medley relay
. Returning to compete at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul, South Korea, Meagher won a bronze medal
in the 200 m butterfly. By the time she left competitive swimming, Meagher had won 24 US national swimming titles.
with their two children Maddie and Drew. Meagher is also the sister of former Kentucky Republican
Representative
Anne Northup
. There is a swimming complex in Louisville named for Meagher, as well as a street in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
.
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1981 she bettered her own existing World Records in the 100m (57.93)
World record progression 100 metres butterfly
The first world record in the 100 metres butterfly in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1957, for both men and women...
and 200m butterfly (2:05.96)
World record progression 200 metres butterfly
The first world record in the men's 200 metres butterfly in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1959. The women's official acknowledged top time came one year earlier...
: these marks stood as the respective World Records for 18 and 19 years, and are considered to be among the greatest sports performances ever.
Early life
Meagher, began competing at an early age, setting her first world recordWorld record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in the butterfly
Butterfly stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...
at the age of 14 in 1979 at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
. She completed her education at the Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, alongside her sister Anne Northup
Anne Northup
Anne Meagher Northup is an American Republican politician from the state of Kentucky. From 1997 to 2007, she represented the Louisville-centered 3rd congressional district of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, where she served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
, who gained fame as a member of the US House Representatives. Also, Mary T. Meagher is a Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscientist.
1980 Boycott and on
Meagher was expected to compete for medals at the 1980 Olympic Games1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow, Russia. However, Meagher, along with the rest of the United States Olympic team, never got her chance due to American-led boycott of the Olympics
American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott of the Moscow Olympics was a part of a package of actions initiated by the United States to protest the Soviet war in Afghanistan...
.
However, in 1981 Meagher gave one of the most memorable performances in competitive swimming at the U.S. Swimming
USA Swimming
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. It is charged with selecting the United States Olympic Swimming team and any other teams which officially represent the United States, as well as the overall organization and operation of the sport within the...
National Championships held in Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Brown Deer is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a suburb of Milwaukee. The population was 11,999 at the 2010 census...
in 1981. At the meet, Meagher set world records in both the 200 meter and 100 meter butterfly, the two primary distances at which the butterfly is contested in competitive swimming. The times for both records were considered astonishing, especially the record of 57.93 seconds that Meagher set in the 100 m—a drop of over a second. Both times would stand as the World Record for nearly two decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s: American swimmer Jenny Thompson
Jenny Thompson
Jennifer Beth Thompson is an American former competitive swimmer, and one of the most decorated Olympians in history, winning twelve medals, including eight gold medals , in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.Thompson, a Massachusetts native who calls Dover, New Hampshire her...
lowered the 100 m record in 1999, while Susie O'Neill of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
set the record in the 200 m a year later. Some have argued that Meagher's records in the butterfly were among the most impressive records ever set in sport, let alone swimming, ranking among such noteworthy records as Bob Beamon
Bob Beamon
Robert "Bob" Beamon is an American former track and field athlete, best known for his world record in the long jump at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, which remained the world record for almost 23 years until it was broken in 1991 by Mike Powell. This is the second longest holding of this record, as...
's long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
world record in 1968. These two swims led "T" to being named Female World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine
Swimming World magazine
Swimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
, which she again won in 1985. She swam collegiately for the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, graduating in 1987 with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Social Sciences.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics, held at the McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, located on the USC campus. There was a total of 494 participants from 67 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Meagher won gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s in both the 100 m and 200 m butterfly races, along with another gold by swimming the butterfly leg of the women's medley relay
Relay
A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an electromagnet to operate a switching mechanism mechanically, but other operating principles are also used. Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a low-power signal , or where several circuits must be controlled...
. Returning to compete at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul, South Korea, Meagher won a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the 200 m butterfly. By the time she left competitive swimming, Meagher had won 24 US national swimming titles.
Post swimming
Meagher married former speed skater Mike Plant; they now live in Peachtree City, GeorgiaPeachtree City, Georgia
Peachtree City is a city in Fayette County, Georgia, United States.Census estimates in 2005 indicated a population of 34,524. In 2007, the city announced a plan to formally annex an unincorporated area between Georgia State Route 74 and the border with Coweta County that is commonly referred to as...
with their two children Maddie and Drew. Meagher is also the sister of former Kentucky Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Anne Northup
Anne Northup
Anne Meagher Northup is an American Republican politician from the state of Kentucky. From 1997 to 2007, she represented the Louisville-centered 3rd congressional district of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, where she served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
. There is a swimming complex in Louisville named for Meagher, as well as a street in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Elizabethtown is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 28,531 at the 2010 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in the state...
.