Mexico City, October 1968, Games of the XIX Olympiad. Portrait of American swimmer Deborah MEYER wearing the three gold medals she won in the 200m, 400m and 800m events. Credit: IOC Olympic Museum Collections

Other names: MEYER, Debbie

Born: 14 August 1952

Birthplace: Haddonfield (United States)

Nationality: United States

Sport: Aquatics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Mexico 1968

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 3

Other results:

Pan American Games

Gold: 2 (67)

The Dominant Swimmer of Mexico City

With victories in the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyles at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968, Debbie Meyer of the United States became the first woman swimmer to win three individual gold medals at one Olympic Games. She won each event by a large margin and achieved her unique Olympic treble despite the fact that she was handicapped by a severe upset stomach in Mexico City. Between 1967 and 1970 she set 15 world records, one at 200m, five at 400m, five at 800m, and four at 1,500m. Her other titles included the Pan-American Championships in 1967 at both 400m and 800m, and the AAU 400m and 1,500m each year from 1967-70, and the AAU 400m individual medley in 1969. She retired after the 1970 season, only 18 years old, and was felt not to have approached her true potential as a distance swimmer.