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1937-
Greatest freestyle sprinter in history

Fraser was on top down under.  UPI/Corbis/Bettman

Her name may not be well known in the United States, but Dawn Fraser's accomplishments were recognized by a global audience during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Australian was honored as one of the greatest Olympians of all time, along with (among others) long jumper Bob Beamon, boxer Teofilo Stevenson, track and field's Carl Lewis, diver Greg Louganis and gymnast Nadia Comaneci. What did Fraser do to deserve her spot on the podium? She was the first woman to win four Olympic gold medals and the first swimmer to win an event in three straight Olympiads (the 100-meter freestyle in 1956, '60 and '64). Fraser was also the first woman to break 60 seconds in the 100 free, an event in which she held the world record from 1956 to '72. She finished her career having won a total of eight medals -- four gold and four silver, four in individual events and four in relays -- and having set 39 world records.

The youngest of eight children from an athletic family, Fraser suffered from asthma and took to the pool because swimming helped strengthen her lungs. At age 14, she was spotted by renowned coach Harry Gallagher, who told Fraser's parents that swimming lessons for their daughter would pay off. Five years later, in front of home fans in Melbourne, she won her first three Olympic medals. She repeated that feat in Rome in 1960, but seven months before the 1964 Tokyo Games, tragedy struck. Fraser was involved in a car accident during which her mother was killed and Fraser chipped a vertebrae in her neck. She battled back from shock and injury, though, to compete in Tokyo, winning the 100 free for a third time and adding a silver in the 4x100 relay.

Shortly thereafter, Fraser was arrested along with two other Aussies for allegedly stealing an Olympic flag from the Japanese Imperial Palace after a party. The Australian Swimming Union banned her from competition for 10 years, effectively ending her career. Fraser acknowledges being in on the prank but denies actually taking the flag.

Since her retirement in 1964, Fraser has dabbled in many vocations, from coaching to running her own business to politics. She remains an icon Down Under and, in many circles, is still referred to as Australia's greatest Olympian. In 1998, the Aussie government named her a National Living Treasure. She has been named attaché to the Australian Olympic Team for the 2000 Games.

They said it: "When I look at my gold medals I can say that I won them honestly and nobody can take that away from me. In those days it was pure honesty. We were true amateurs. There was no money and no gifts." --Fraser

--Albert Lin

Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.

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