ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 1, 1997 TAG: 9701020056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
The timing was perfect for Amy Van Dyken, and she made the most of it.
On a U.S. Olympic swimming team expected to be swamped by faster athletes from China, Australia and Germany, Van Dyken was seen as a fringe player, perhaps good enough for a silver or bronze medal and a leg in a relay or two.
But America's swimmers turned into the overachievers of the Summer Games, and nobody outdid the predictions like Van Dyken.
In fact, no U.S. woman ever did what the 24-year-old from Englewood, Colo., achieved in Atlanta.
Van Dyken became the first woman from the United States to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, finishing first in the 50-meter freestyle and 100 butterfly and swimming legs on the championship 400 freestyle and 400 medley relay teams.
That unprecedented performance, in an Olympics in which women held the spotlight more than ever before, produced another victory for Van Dyken. She was chosen Tuesday as The Associated Press female athlete of the year.
Nationwide balloting by the AP's print and broadcast members gave Van Dyken 191 points and 45 of the 165 first-place votes.
Second was another Olympic gold medalist, gymnast Kerri Strug, with 34 first-place votes and 159 points, followed by tennis star Steffi Graf, with 27 first-place votes and 142 points. (Voting in Scoreboard. B6)
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB