Natalie Coughlin is a swimmer who has competed for the United States. She competed at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Coughlin was favored to win multiple medals at her first Games in 2004. There, she claimed her first individual medal with a gold in the 100 metres backstroke (1:00.37). Earlier in the semifinals, she blasted a new Olympic record of 1:00.17 to shave 0.04 seconds off the mark from Diana Mocanu in Sydney 2000. She also added another gold and two silver as a member of the U.S. women's team in all relay races and a bronze in the 100 metres freestyle.
Four years later in Beijing, Coughlin set a historic record as the first U.S. woman to win six medals in a single edition and the first swimmer to ever defend her title in the women's 100 metres backstroke with an American record time (58.96). She also repeated her bronze from Athens in the 100 metres freestyle, trailing the winner Britta Steffen and runner-up Lisbeth Trickett by 0.27 of a second.
At London 2012, Coughlin won a bronze and twelfth overall in the women's 4x100 metres freestyle relay by swimming in the heats with Lia Neal, Amanda Weir, and Allison Schmitt. Coughlin's overall tally of twelve medals tied the all-time record for a female Olympic swimmer set by Jenny Thompson in 2004 and Dara Torres in 2008.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Women's 100m freestyle | 
|
| Women's 100m backstroke | 
| |
| Women's 4x100m freestyle relay | 
| |
| Women's 4x200m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2008 | Women's 100m freestyle |
|
| Women's 100m backstroke |
| |
| Women's 200m individual medley |
| |
| Women's 4x100m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x200m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2012 | Women's 4x100m freestyle relay |
|
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 54.82 | |
| Semifinal | 54.37 | ||
| Final | 54.40 | ||
| 100 metres backstroke | Heats | 1:01.45 | |
| Semifinal | 1:00.17 | OR | |
| Final | 1:00.37 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:39.46 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:36.39 (53.83 split) |
AR | |
| 4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 8:00.81 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 7:53.42 (1:57.74 split) |
WR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 4:02.82 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:59.12 (59.68 split, OR) |
2008[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 53.82 | |
| Semifinal | 53.70 | ||
| Final | 53.39 | AR | |
| 100 metres backstroke | Heats | 59.69 | |
| Semifinal | 59.43 | ||
| Final | 58.96 | AR | |
| 200 metres individual medley | Heats | 2:11.63 | |
| Semifinal | 2:11.84 | ||
| Final | 2:10.34 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:37.53 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:34.33 (54.00 split) |
AR | |
| 4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 7:52.43 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 7:46.33 (1:57.19 split) |
AR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:59.15 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:53.30 (58.94 split) |
AR |
2012[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:36.53 (53.93 split) |
|
| Final | 3:34.24 (Reserve) |
AR |