Debbie Meyer
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Deborah Elizabeth "Debbie"•Meyer (-Weber) |
| Used name | Debbie•Meyer |
| Born | 14 August 1952 in Annapolis, Maryland (USA) |
| Measurements | 170 cm / 52 kg |
| Affiliations | Arden Hills Swim Club, Sacramento (USA) |
| NOC |  United States |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 3 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 3 |
Biography
With victories in the 200, 400, and 800 metre freestyles in 1968, Debbie Meyer of the United States became the first woman swimmer to win three individual gold medals at one Olympic Games. She won each event by a large margin and achieved her unique Olympic treble despite the fact that she was handicapped by a severe upset stomach in Mexico City. Between 1967 and 1970 she set 15 world records, one at 200 metres, five at 400 metres, five at 800 metres, and four at 1,500 metres. Her other titles included the Pan-American Championships in 1967 at both 400 and 800 metres, the AAU 400 and 1,500 metres each year from 1967-70, and the AAU 400 metre individual medley in 1969. She retired after the 1970 season, only 18 years old, and was felt not to have approached her true potential as a distance swimmer. Meyer later became the owner/operator of the Debbie Meyer Swim Schools in and around Sacramento, California.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | USA |
Debbie Meyer | |||
| 200 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 400 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 800 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (2–0–0 1967 Winnipeg SWI gold: 400 m freestyle and 800 m freestyle)
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (200 m freestyle – 24 August 1968 - 1 May 1971: 2:06.7 (24 August 1968; Los Angeles, USA); 400 m freestyle – 27 July 1967 - 30 April 1971: 4:32.6 (27 July 1967; Winnipeg, CAN), 4:29.0 (18 August 1967; Philadelphia, USA), 4:26.7 (1 August 1968; Lincoln, USA), 4:24.5 (25 August 1968; Los Angeles, USA), 4:24.3 (20 August 1970; Los Angeles, USA); 800 m freestyle – 9 July 1967 - 1 March 1970: 9:35.8 (9 July 1967; Santa Clara, USA), 9:22.9 (29 July 1967; Winnipeg, CAN), 9:19.0 (21 July 1968; Los Angeles, USA), 9:17.8 (4 August 1968; Lincoln, USA), 9:10.4 (28 August 1968; Los Angeles, USA); 1500 m freestyle – 9 July 1967 - 28 August 1971: 18:11.1 (9 July 1967; Santa Clara, USA), 17:50.2 (20 August 1967; Philadelphia, USA), 17:31.2 (21 August 1968; Los Angeles, USA), 17:19.9 (17 August 1969; Louisville, USA))
- Listed in Olympic Swimmers - Doubles Champions, Same Year (1968 Distance Freestyle Double Champion (400/800).)
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Awarded the James E. Sullivan Award (1968)