Janet Evans

All of Evans' hard work paid off. In 1986 she qualified to compete in the Goodwill Games, held in Moscow, where she finished third in both the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events. At the U.S. Open, later in the year, she won the 400- and 800-meter freestyle events, as well as the 400-meter individual medley. The following year at the U.S. Long Course Championship, Evans set world records in both the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events. Not long thereafter, competing in the U.S. Indoor Championships, she set a new world record

Janet Evans

in the 400-meter freestyle race. At the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, Evans won the 400- and 800-meter freestyle events and the 400-meter individual medley while breaking her own records in the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events.

At 17, Evans was the youngest and smallest member of the U.S. women's swim team at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. But neither her youth nor her diminutive stature in any way kept her from turning in a stellar performance in the Olympic pool. Evans won gold in the 400-meter freestyle, setting a new world record. She also won the 800-meter freestyle race, setting a new Olympic record. Evans' third gold medal came in the 400-meter individual medley, in which she set a new American record. Her performance made her only the fifth woman ever to have won three or more gold medals in individual (as opposed to team) swimming events. As the only member of the U.S. Olympic women's swim team to win a medal in an individual event, she became an overnight star. "I'm proud of myself for not giving in," Evans told reporters. "I didn't skip workouts. I couldn't have won a gold medal if I did that. Not to be boastful or anything like that, but you have to be proud of yourself if you win an Olympic gold medal. To know all the work paid off. I accomplished my goal."