Amanda Ray Beard (Irvine, California, October 29, 1981) is an American Olympic swimmer.
Beard made her first Olympic appearance at the 1996 games at the age of 14. She won silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststrokes, and a gold in the medley relay. Her young-teen manner captured the attention of the media, and she was often photographed clutching her teddy bear which joined her on the medal stand. She won a bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2000 Games. Amanda attended the University of Arizona where she captured an individual NCAA National Championship in 2001.
In 2003 she became the world champion and world record holder in the 200m breaststroke. She also made a good showing at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, and she competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, where she won a gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke, her first individual gold medal. She also won a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley, and she finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Amanda has won eight United States titles (3 times both in 200m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke, plus 2 times in 200m individual medley). She was 1st in world ranking of 200m breaststroke since 2003.
Olympic medal record
Women's swimming
Gold
1996 Atlanta
4x100 m medley relay
Silver
1996 Atlanta
100 m breaststroke
Silver
1996 Atlanta
200 m breaststroke
Bronze
2000 Sydney
200 m breaststroke
Gold
2004 Athens
200 m breaststroke
Silver
2004 Athens
200 m individual medley
Silver
2004 Athens
4x100 m medley relay
Her modelling work through photos in swimwear, including bikinis, have been in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition She is a spokesperson for Defenders of Wildlife, and she enjoys interior decorating. Both of her sisters, Leah and Taryn, are swimmers. Amanda placed eighth in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity car race in 2006.
Beard dated South African swimmer Ryk Neethling for nearly six years, but that relationship ended in the Spring of 2005. She is well-known among stockcar racing circles, after dating several of the drivers. Her relationship with Nextel Cup Series driver Carl Edwards ended in April of 2006.
Beard was featured on the cover of the September 2004 issue of FHM magazine that was titled the "Sexy Olympic special". Alongside Beard were pro volleyball player Logan Tom, pro track stars Amy Acuff and Jenny Adams, and fellow pro swimmer Haley Cope. Amanda was featured on the cover and an inside pictorial for the August 2006 issue of FHM, which also named her the world's sexiest athlete on the cover.
Personal bests
Beard's personal bests in long-course meters are:
100m breaststroke: 1:07.42
200m breaststroke: 2:22.44 (2nd Fastest Swimmer in event)
200m individual medley: 2:11.70
