Statistics:
1 200 m Freestyle Olympic Gold Medal (1968)
1 400 m Freestyle Olympic Gold Medal (1968)
1 800 m Freestyle Olympic Gold Medal (1968)
1 400 m Freestyle Pan American Gold Medal (1967)
1 800 m Freestyle Pan American Gold Medal (1967)
1 AP Female Athlete of the Year Award (1969)
1 James E. Sullivan Award (1968)
Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
The 1968 Mexico City Olympics was the first to see women race longer than 400 m when the 800 m was instituted. That year, the IOC also added the 200 m. In the freestyle discipline, Debbie Meyer won them all.
Still, a 16-year-old high school student from Sacramento, Meyer's three Golds marked the first time a swimmer won three Gold Medals at an Olympics. Meyer only swam a few more years after, but she would break 24 American records, win 19 AAU National Championships, and was the 1969 AP Female Athlete of the Year.
We are proud to nominate Debbie Meyer for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.