Sport: Swimming

Hometown: Annapolis, MD

Biography: Debbie Meyer was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in 1977. She won 3 golds in 1968 Olympics and 2 golds in 1967 Pan-American Games. She has won 19 National AAU Championships and 24 American Records on 3 American Record Relays. Debbie holds 15 World Records. In 1967, 1968, and 1969 she was "World Swimmer of the Year". In 1968 she was the Sullivan Award winner. Debbie swam for Arden Hills under Sherm Chavoor. Debbie was the first to win 3 individual golds at one Olympics. She was the first woman to swim 1500m under 18 minutes and the first to take the 400m under 4:30, the 500 yd. under 5 minutes and the 1650 yd. under 17 minutes. She held 24 American Records. In 1967 she was chosen Tass News Agency's "Woman Athlete of the Year". Debbie Meyer between the ages of 14 and 18 was the world's greatest female swimmer. 7 years prior to 1968 she swam 30,000 miles in 7 years to set training standards no girl before her had achieved. Just for comparison and a little argument in the battle of the sexes, Debbie's 4:24.5 in the 400m would have beaten then gold medalist Murray Rose in the 1956 Olympics and her 17:19.9 in the 1500m would have been 39 seconds faster than his 1500m time.