Amanda Ray Beard (born October 29, 1981 in Newport Beach, California) is an American Olympic swimmer and model.
Beard transfered her primarily Olympic arrival at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games at the age of 14, additonally a student at Irvine High School in Irvine, California.[4] She won silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststrokes, and a gold in the medley relay. Her young-teen manner captured the thought of the media, and she was often photographed clutching her teddy bear, significantly on the medal stand. She won a bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Amanda attended the University of Arizona at which she captured an precise NCAA Division I championships in 2001.
In 2003 she became the sector champion and industry record high holder in the 200-meter breaststroke. She furthermore formed a decent shooting at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, and she competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, at which she won a gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke, her initial specific gold medal. She in addition won a silver medal in the 200-meter exact medley, and she wrapped up fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Beard has won eight US Nationals titles (thrice in both the 200m breaststroke and the 100m breaststroke, additonally twice in the 200m specific medley). She was first and foremost in a planet ranking of 200m breaststrokers in 2003.
Her modeling strive has included appearances in FHM, the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and she posed for the July 2007 hassle of Playboy.[5] She is a spokesperson for Defenders of Wildlife, and enjoys interior decorating. Both of her sisters, Leah and Taryn, are swimmers. Amanda placed eighth in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Celebrity car race in 2006.
She just recently initiated initiating her own conventional segment on the Fox network’s popular sports blabber program, The Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Beard formerly dated South African swimmer Ryk Neethling and NASCAR Nextel Cup Driver Carl Edwards. She is already dating photographer Sacha Brown.
At the 2008 US Olympic Swim Trials, Beard proficient for her 4th US Olympic Team. Beard done time in the 200m Breaststroke.