Other Free Encyclopedias :: Famous Sports Stars :: Swimming :: Janet Evans Biography - Born In Fullerton, California, Hard Work Pays Off, Chronology, Continues To Break Records - CONTACT INFORMATION
 

Janet Evans - Continues To Break Records

Evans continued to break records after her brilliant performance at the Seoul Olympics. At the Pan Pacific Games in 1989, she broke her own world record in the 800-meter freestyle. At the 1992 Goodwill Games, she won the 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle races and finished second in the 400-meter individual medley. At the 1992 Olympic trials for the summer games in Barcelona, Evans handily qualified for the 400- and 800-meter freestyle events but failed to qualify for the 400-meter individual medley. At the Barcelona games themselves, Evans won gold in the 800-meter freestyle but had to settle for silver in the 400-meter freestyle event. With her gold medal-winning victory in the 800-meter event, she became only the third American woman to win four gold Olympic medals (the others being sprinter Evelyn Ashford and diver Pat McCormick). Their record for gold medals was eventually broken by speed skater Bonnie Blair, who won a total of five.

Although Evans continued to compete after the Barcelona Olympics, few observers of the swimming scene expected her to be able to qualify for the 1996 Olympics. To their surprise, she once again qualified to compete for the United States in both the 400- and 800-meter freestyle, despite torn ligaments in her left foot. However, the competition at Atlanta proved too tough for her, and she finished sixth in the 800-meter event and failed to qualify for the finals in the 400-meter freestyle. Following her last Olympic performance, Evans told reporters, "I had my highs and lows, but I wouldn't give it [her swimming career] up for the world." Shortly thereafter, she announced her retirement from competitive swimming. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Evans admitted there were some things she wouldn't miss. "The chlorine makes my feet sore and dries all my skin, and I hate that. My hair sometimes gets yucky. I always wanted long hair, but I could never have it. I can do everything I wanted to do as a kid after I quit."

Named in her honor, the Janet Evans Invitational is sponsored by the University of Southern California. The event annually draws up to 800 of the best swimmers in the United States. Although she has not actively competed for several years, Evans will be forever remembered as one of the greatest female distance swimmers in American history.

Related Biography: Coach Richard Quick

An important force in Evans' swimming career was Richard Quick, a longtime Olympic coach and the coach of the women's swimming and diving programs at Stanford University for more than 15 years. Quick was the head coach of the men's and women's swim teams at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, assistant coach of the women's team in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, and head coach of the women's team in Atlanta, Georgia, the three Olympics in which Evans participated. In addition Quick was assistant coach of the men's and women's swim teams at the 1984 Olympics and head coach of the women's team at the 2000 Olympics.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Quick was raised mostly in Austin, Texas, where he learned to swim under the tutelage of coach Bill Crenshaw at the Austin Aquatics Club. After graduating from high school, Quick attended Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he was an All-American swimmer in 1965 and 1966. He began his coaching career at Spring Branch Memorial High School in Houston, Texas, where he guided the school's swim team to six state championships. Quick next served as assistant coach for the men's team at SMU, his alma mater. In 1976 he launched the women's swimming program at SMU. He later served as head coach at Iowa State University, Auburn, and the University of Texas. In the fall of 1988, he took over as head coach of the women's team at Stanford, guiding the team to multiple NCAA national titles.

Awards and Accomplishments

1984 Wins 1500-meter freestyle at U.S. Junior Nationals
1986 Finishes third in 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events at Goodwill Games
1987, 1989-90 Named World Swimmer of the Year
1988 Wins gold in 400- and 800-meter freestyle and 400-meter individual medley at Seoul Olympics
1989 Sets new world record in 800-meter freestyle at Pan Pacific Games
1992 Wins gold in 800-meter freestyle and silver in 400-meter freestyle at Barcelona Olympics
1996 Finishes sixth in 800-meter freestyle at Atlanta Olympics
Janet Evans - Related Biography: Coach Richard Quick [next] [back] Janet Evans - Chronology

User Comments Add a comment…