Athlete, swimmer, model on the cover of Sports Illustrated (Swimsuit Edition) and Playboy, Amanda Beard has a lot going for her. This 26 year old woman (birthday October 29, 1981) rose to stardom at the age of 14, still remembered for carrying her teddy bear up to the medal stand.

Like most young people with a lot of expectations and pressure on them, Amanda went through a rebellious stage that just happened to coincide with a growth spurt.

Though personal insecurities kept her out of the water for a while, it certainly didn’t keep her out forever, and she credits coach Franck Busch with helping her focus.

Even after all these years, Amanda still loves swimming just for the fun of swimming.

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