The 1992 Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain. Here are some of the autographs of the swimming competitors that debuted there.
Nicole Haislett - United States
In the early 1990's, Nicole Haislett was the most dominant freestyle sprinter in the world. She was a triple Gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics, and won eleven other Golds in World Championships, Pan Pacific Games, and Goodwill Games between 1989 and 1994. Haislett retired from swimming in 1995, about the time she was kind enough to sign these autographs for me.
|
Lea Loveless - United States
I got this autograph from Lea Loveless in the early 2000's. She was even kind enough to enclose some articles about her career for me. Loveless won a Gold medal in Barcelona in the Medley relay, and a Bronze in the 100 meter backstroke. She also won 7 additional Gold medals and 5 more medals in World Championships and Pan Pacific Games between 1989 and 1998.
Summer Sanders - United States
I first noticed Summer Sanders in the 1990 Goodwill Games. She won three Gold medals and was the life of the competition. She won multiple medals in the World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships in 1991. In Barcelona, she continued her excellence by winning a Gold medal in the 200 meter butterfly and the 4 x 100 meter medley, plus won two medals in the 200 and 400 meter Individual Medleys. After 1992, Sanders began a career in television that has made her a celebrity for many years. Summer sent me this photo in 1995, and I was thrilled to receive it.
|
Jenny Thompson - United States
Between 1989 and 2004, Jenny Thompson won 53 Gold medals, 20 Silver medals, and 8 Bronze medals in Olympic, World Championship, Pan Pacific Games, and Pan American Games competition. Her most impressive swim may have been breaking Mary T. Meagher's 18 year old 100 meter Butterfly World Record in 1999. She also set a number of other World Records. Add to this, 19 NCAA Championships, and Jenny Thompson is among the elite swimmers of all time. I got this autograph from Jenny in 1995.
Martina Moravcova - Slovakia
Martina Moravcova competed in five Olympics from 1992-2008. In 2000, she won Silver medals in the 100 meter butterfly and 200 meter freestyle. These were the only Olympic medals she won. But, her International record away from the Olympics is outstanding. She won 72 medals in World and European Championships, and Universiade competitions, including 34 Gold medals. She also won five NCAA Championships while swimming at SMU. She was kind enough to sign the card I sent, but sent her own photo to me.
|
Samantha Riley - Australia
Sam Riley was Swimming World's 1994 Female Swimmer of the Year. In 1992 and 1996, she took the Olympic Bronze medal in the 100 meter breaststroke. This was unusual. She won 13 Gold medals in every other major event in which she competed in the 1990's.