Natalie Coughlin

Sport: Swimming

Nation: United States of America

DOB: August 23, 1982

Hometown: Vallejo, CA

Career Highlights: With 11 Olympic medals, Coughlin has a chance to become one of the most decorated U.S. female Olympians of all time at this year’s Games. Behind only Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson by one medal, Coughlin narrowly missed the chance to compete in two events and will have to settle for an attempt to tie her predecessors' total. The two-time defending Olympic 100-meter backstroke champion failed to qualify for that event, finishing third at the U.S. trials, and is only lined up to race in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay in London. The University of California-Berkeley graduate has won a medal in every Olympic event she’s ever entered, not to mention 22 medals from world championships - including five in 2007 and three more last year. While at Cal, she earned NCAA Swimmer of the Year honors three years in a row and only lost one time in her entire college career. She was also the Swimming World magazine World Swimmer of the Year in 2002. Coughlin has been able to excel beyond the pool, delving into the entertainment world by competing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars" and cooking on the "Today Show."

Olympic History: 2008,2004