Olympic swimmer describes medal journey

Swimming great Amanda Beard has a surprising answer when fans ask her which of her seven Olympic medals is her favorite.

“Everyone automatically assumes gold,” she said. “I always say that the bronze medal (from the 2000 Sydney Games) is the favorite medal I’ve ever achieved. It’s simply because I went through so much in that time to scratch my way back up to the podium. And it’s because I loved what I was doing.”

Beard, who has been a part of four U.S. Olympics teams and has won two gold medals, four silver medals and a bronze medal, took the audience through the highs and lows that occurred from 1996-2000 while speaking at the 7th Annual Bearcats Celebrating Women’s Athletics Luncheon and Auction at the Events Center on Feb. 6.

All proceeds from the event benefitted the BUAC Women’s Scholarship Fund, which makes awards to deserving female student-athletes. The event, which also recognizes the achievements of Binghamton University’s female student-athletes, has raised more than $100,000 since 2006. Guest speakers included President Harvey Stenger, Athletics Director Patrick Elliott, America East Conference Commissioner Amy Huchthausen, senior softball player Briana Andrews and M&T Bank Regional President Peter G. Newman.

Stenger, attending his first Bearcats Celebrating Women’s Athletics luncheon, said women’s sports activities help participants build character and develop career skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication.

“I personally am a strong supporter of athletics – and certainly women’s athletics,” he said. “I have two daughters who played intercollegiate athletics and a wife who played intercollegiate athletics. And myself, I pretended to play intercollegiate athletics.”

Stenger emphasized that besides their success on the courts, fields and classrooms, the University’s women athletes have helped the Binghamton region by assisting flood victims.

“They are role models for our students and the community,” he said.

Beard has been a role model since capturing America’s attention at the 1996 Atlanta Games. With her trademark teddy bear, the 5’2, 90-pound 14-year-old stood on the podium three times, earning a gold medal and two silver medals.

But Beard was about to get a crash course in “crazy expectations.”

“One of the first questions I was asked (after my races) was: ‘Are you disappointed that you lost?’” she said. “I’m 14 and looking at them like ‘Are you crazy? I’m at the Olympics and I have a medal around my neck. That’s pretty cool.’”

After the Games, Beard returned home to California, had a parade in her honor and even appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Beard admitted, though, that she let the thought of not winning three gold medals get to her.

“I read a lot of headlines and newspaper articles,” she said. “At 14, you take those things to heart.”

Beard then went through a growth spurt over the next six months and did not fare well in one of her first post-Olympic meets.

“I did not win. I did not break any records. I did not wow anyone,” she said. “I left my goggles on because I started crying immediately. I felt like I disappointed everybody: friends, family, the media and all of the people who came to watch me.”

Beard said she started to dislike the sport she had loved since a young age. After finishing last in another meet, Beard asked herself “Why am I doing this?” and decided to quit swimming, become a regular high-school student and do what her friends there did on a daily basis.

“It took me three months to realize that I was not missing out on anything,” she said, noting that others were just going home to watch “Saved by the Bell” on television. “I was missing out not being in the pool.”

Beard returned to training and eventually started competing again. She had a new outlook on the sport: She was OK with not winning.

Beard went on to the University of Arizona and found an “instant family” in its swim team.  She decided to attend the 2000 Olympics Trials in Indianapolis, even though she was ranked 60th in the world and 12th in the United States in the 200-meter breaststroke. Only the top two in each event made the Olympic team.

“Twelfth was not going to cut it,” she said.

Beard’s first event was the 100-meter breaststroke. A defeatist attitude soon kicked in.

“I walked out there nervous, no smile on my face and stressed out,” said Beard, who finished eighth out of eight.

After receiving a pep talk from her family that night, Beard decided to take a different approach in the 200-meter breaststroke.

“I’m going to walk to the block like I’m having the best time of my life,” she said. “I’m not going to be negative and tell myself that I’ve already lost.”

Beard said she walked to the pool waving and pointing to the crowd. She then proceeded to swim an “amazing” first two laps before starting to feel the rigors of the four-lap race.

“The whole last lap I was dying,” she said. “But at one point I did get covered with goosebumps. I thought that something really cool was about to happen or I was about to pass out and puke.”

“Really cool” was the right answer: Beard finished second and earned a spot on the Olympic team.

“That moment was so refreshing and amazing,” she said. “It all clicked. When I have fun in my sport and I’m doing what I love to do, it’s so much easier.”

Beard would go on to receive the bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke and became the world record holder in the event in 2003. She later competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and would do modeling and television work, as well.

Beard is now training for a spot on her fifth Olympic team. The lesson she learned between Atlanta and Sydney is something all athletes can take with them.

“It doesn’t matter what places you get or what records you are breaking,” she said. “It’s the memories you make. It’s having fun with teammates and enjoying the process. It’s a sport. If people love to come out and watch you, smile and enjoy what you’re doing.”