Amanda Beard was just 14 years-old the first time she made an appearance in the Olympic Games and walked away as the second youngest swimmer in history to medal with one gold and two silvers. Over the course of the next twelve years she would be the recipient of eight USA Swimming National Titles, hold the FINA World Record and World Champion title for the 200-meter breaststroke, make three more appearances in the Olympic Games–accumulating another gold, two more silvers and a bronze–and serve as the USA Olympic Swimming Team Captain twice, thus carving her name deeply into the face of sports history.

Almost eclipsing her incredible athletic achievements, Beard’s celebrity status has allowed her to enjoy immense success as a brand representative as well as a nonprofit advisor and has frequently put her in the spotlight as a model and correspondent for print and television media outlets worldwide. She has graced the pages of countless sports and lifestyle magazines and been a guest and host on numerous national TV shows.

Beard became a first time co-author in 2012 with the release of the autobiographical New York Times Bestseller "In the Water They Can't See You Cry." She used the personal recount as an opportunity to share aspects of her life previously kept private and in doing so managed to connect deeply with a new audience. She currently shares her story of professional and personal triumph via motivational speaking engagements and passes on her swimming expertise via clinics and private lessons.

Beard’s most recent entrepreneurial endeavor is as Co-Founder of Beard Swim Co., a learn-to-swim program with a philosophy that the ability to swim is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. Keeping kids water safe is a mission that has become even closer to Beard’s heart since having children of her own. She is married to photographer Sacha Brown, with whom she has a son Blaise and a daughter Doone.

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