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Amanda Beard: The Making of a Four-Time Olympian

Amanda Beard: The Making of a Four-Time Olympian

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 Dive into an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with four-time Olympian, world champion, and gold medalist Amanda Beard, whose journey from teen swimming star to mental-health advocate continues to inspire athletes and fans around the world. In this biographical interview, Amanda reflects on her early rise to becoming one of America’s most celebrated swimmers—bursting onto the international stage at just 14 years old—and the emotional, psychological, and competitive pressures that came with global fame. Amanda shares intimate stories about training at the highest level, navigating the expectations of elite performance, and redefining her identity beyond medals and records. She opens up about the challenges of body image, anxiety, and the realities no one sees behind Olympic glory. Today, as a speaker, mother, entrepreneur, and advocate, Amanda continues to support athletes in embracing authenticity, mental well-being, and self-acceptance. Listeners will hear how Amanda transformed obstacles into purpose, what she learned from competing in four Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), and how her journey shaped her career both in and out of the pool. Whether you’re a swimmer, sports enthusiast, or someone seeking a story of perseverance and personal growth, this episode offers a powerful look into the strength of vulnerability and the courage to evolve. Tune in for a rich, honest conversation about greatness, resilience, and life after the podium.

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Amanda Beard interview, Olympic swimmer, four-time Olympian, Olympic gold medalist, USA Swimming, women in sports, athlete mental health, sports psychology, swimming podcast, Amanda Beard biography, competitive sports stories, Olympic Games story, swimmer mindset, athlete advocacy, performance pressure, body image in sports, inspirational athletes, Olympic history, elite training, personal growth, mental-health awareness, athlete success stories, overcoming adversity

"Amanda Beard was just 14 years-old when she qualified for her first Olympic Games and walked away as the second youngest swimmer in history to medal with one gold and two silvers. That was just the beginning to a very successful career, in the pool and out. She went on to make the next three Olympic games, competing in a total of four Olympics where she earned seven Olympic medals (two gold, four silver, one bronze). She has collected a total of twenty-one medals in major international competitions, a former World and American recorder holder, NCAA champ, received the American Swimmer of the Year Award not once, but twice, eight U.S. National Titles and served as Team USA's Olympic Swim Team Captain twice. Not only did she shine in the water, she graced the pages of countless sports and lifestyle magazine as a model, brand representative also as a nonprofit advisor. Nowadays Amanda is a mother of two, wife, motivational speaker, businesswoman and author of New York Times Bestseller In the Water They Can't See You Cry, and is co-founder of Beard Swim Co" Kaitlin Sandeno

Women Unscripted (formerly WiSP Sports) founded in 2012, has more than 1700 episodes from around the world of women’s sport and the arts. We have covered every sport and all the issues around women in sport. We have interviewed hundreds of athletes and several of them have hosted our shows over the years. Subscribe and download Women Unscripted for free access to our extensive archive library.
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