The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, United States. A number of nations boycotted the games including the Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Cuba.
Ingrid Lempereur - Belgium
Ingrid Lempereur was a 15 year old phenom from Belgium that won the 200 meter breaststroke Bronze medal. She had strong international success over the next few years, winning medals at the European Championships and the Universiade.
Theresa Andrews - United States
Theresa Andrews was one of the most successful NCAA swimmers ever. She swam for Indiana, then transferred to Florida and won Big Ten, SEC, and NCAA titles in bunches. In the 1984 Summer Olympics, she narrowly beat fellow American Betsy Mitchell for the 100 meter backstroke Gold, then swam backstroke for the American record setting Medley relay team which also won the Gold. Andrews retired as the Olympic champion. I wrote to her in late 1994. She was kind enough to sign for me and added the "84 Gold" inscription.
Sue Landells - Australia
Suzanne Landells was a longshot finalist in the 1984 Olympics 400 meter Individual Medley. She barely qualified, but in the final, she came alive finishing second to the legendary Tracy Caulkins. In 1986, she won Gold in both the 200 and 400 meter Individual Medleys at the Commonwealth Games. I wrote to her in 2006, and she was generous enough to sign for me and enclose a photo.
Sarah Hardcastle - Great Britain
Sarah Hardcastle of Great Britain was one of Europe's premier freestylers for over a decade. She won two medals in the 1984 Summer Olympics as a teenager, but continued to be a force in World and European Championships and Commonwealth Games until she retired after reaching the finals of the 800 meter freestyle in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Betsy Mitchell - United States Member of International Swimming Hall of Fame
Betsy Mitchell was arguably the premier backstroker of the 1980's. She made the 1984 Olympic team as a teenager, and missed the Gold medal by less than a tenth of a second. She won Gold as part of the medley relay team, and also won a Silver in 1988. But the Olympics were her worst showings. She dominated NCAA, Pan American Games, Goodwill Games, and World Championship competition. Betsy signed this card for me in 1994. I'm not sure why I didn't list the relay medals on there, but she sure earned them.