Career Highlights

-         Considered the greatest female distance swimmer of all-time, was a three-time Olympian and four-time individual Olympic gold medalist

-         First woman to win back-to-back Olympic and World Championship titles in any event

-         Won 21 international individual titles throughout her career and was undefeated in the 800m and 1500m freestyles for eight years

-         Earned 45 U.S. National titles and eight Kiphuth Awards for high individual points at a U.S. Nationals, the second-most career titles in history

-         Still owns three long-course world records (in the 400m free, 800m free and 1500m free)

-         In 1989, recognized as the top amateur athlete in the country, earning the Sullivan Award and the USOC SportsWoman of the Year, following her triple gold medal 1988 Olympic performance

-         Retired  following the 1996 Olympics, where she carried in the torch at the Opening Ceremonies

International Medals

Olympic Games:

1988: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 800m free; 1^st, 400m IM  
1992: 1^st, 800m free; 2^nd, 400m free  

World Championships:

1991: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 800m free; 2^nd, 200m free  
1994: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 800m free  

Pan Pacific Championships:

1987: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 400m IM; 2^nd, 800m free  
1989: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 800m free; 1^st, 400m IM  
1991: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 800m free; 2^nd, 200m free  
1993: 1^st, 400m free; 1^st, 800m free  

Personal

Evans now does speaking engagements for a living and is a frequent television commentator for swimming and diving championships … she also serves as a board member of Special Olympics Southern California andthe Amateur Athletic Foundation … participated in the torch relay for the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games … she is still honored every year with the Janet Evans Invitational that the USC hosts each July … was married to Billy Willson in April 2004 at California's Long Beach Aquarium; the wedding graced the pages of People magazine.