Matt Biondi

Matthew ( " Matt" ) Nicholas Biondi ( born October 8, 1965, in Moraga ) is a retired American swimmer and water polo player.

Career

Besides swimming Matt Biondi was also active in the water polo team at his university team. He was able to win the NCAA championships in 1983, 1984 and 1987. International success celebrated Biondi but only in swimming.

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles Matt Biondi won his first gold medal with the U.S. 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. On 6 August 1985, he improved to a race in Mission Viejo twice the world record in the 100m freestyle. He undercut the second race with 48.95 seconds as the first swimmer ever, the 49 -second mark. In the following years Biondi improved on this route the world record twice, the last time at the Olympic Trials in 1988 in Austin, at 48.42 seconds. This record should eventually have 6 years in hand, to Alexander Popov, a new era in the 100 m freestyle swimming was rung.

At the World Championships 1986 in Madrid Matt Biondi won, as expected, the 100 m freestyle. But in addition to its special route had Biondi also on other routes entirely medal chances. He won at the championships, along with two other gold medals in the relay events (4 × 100 m medley, 4 × 100 m freestyle ), also silver on the 100m butterfly and bronze over 50 m and 200 m freestyle. With the 4 × 200 freestyle relay could Biondi its extensive medal collection to add another bronze plaque.

At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul Biondi won in addition to the 100 m freestyle on the half distance. He not only left with Tom Jager its nearest rivals behind him, against whom he defeated in 14 Compare ten times on this route, but this also snatched the world record. There were also a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and bronze over 200m freestyle. Galt the gold medal in the 50m freestyle as a small surprise success, the silver medal was in the butterfly Biondi decision for a disappointment. On this track, he was the clear top favorite because of the absence of world record holder Pablo Morales. Until shortly before the end of the race, this prediction seemed to confirm, as the Americans with half a body length clearly led the field. In the faith of a certain victory Biondi therefore dispensed with the last arm pull and settled instead planing to the water's edge. That it was ultimately doomed because he was still intercepted by Anthony Nesty of Suriname and was eventually referred to a hundredth of a second to second place. But with three more gold medals from the relay events Biondi won the most medals at these games, and was after the six-time Olympic gold medalist Kristin Otto of East Germany 's most successful participants.

In the post-Olympic year, Matt Biondi primarily focused on the water polo sport and made ​​it into the U.S. national team. However, in early 1990, he returned to swimming and was able to defend already in the following year at the 1991 World Championships in Perth his title over 100m freestyle successful. In addition, he won over the short sprint silver medal behind Tom Jager, who had meanwhile brought back the world record. With the two sprint relays get Biondi two more title defenses.

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona has won freestyle and the 4 × 100 m medley relay Matt Biondi twice more gold with the 4 × 100 m, where it was used in the latter only in the flow. About the individual distances him another victory remained, however, denied. About 50 m freestyle, he won at least still a silver medal. On the 100 m distance Biondi took as Acting Olympic champion and world record holder 5th place

Biondi is after Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz of the most successful swimmers in the history of the Olympic Games. Overall, he won eight gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal at three games. Moreover, he put on a total of 13 world records. In the years 1985, 1986 and 1988, he was awarded the 1986 and 1988 American Swimmer of the Year as World Swimmer of the Year. In 1997, the 1993 retired from active competition Biondi was inducted into the Hall of Fame International Swimming Sports.

Achievements

Olympic games

  • Los Angeles in 1984 Gold: 4 × 100 m freestyle relay
  • Seoul 1988 Gold: 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, 4 × 100 m medley relay, 4 × 200 m freestyle relay
  • Silver: 100 m butterfly
  • Bronze: 200 m Freestyle
  • Barcelona 1992 Gold: 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, 4 × 100 m Medley Relay
  • Silver: 50 m freestyle

World Championships

  • Madrid 1986 Gold: 100 m freestyle, 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, 4 × 100 m Medley Relay
  • Silver: 100 m butterfly
  • Bronze: 50 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 4 × 200 m freestyle relay
  • Perth 1991 Gold: 100 m freestyle, 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, 4 × 100 m Medley Relay
  • Silver: 50 m freestyle

Bests

* At the time of the creation of an official world record

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