Misty Hyman

Misty Dawn Marie Hyman (born March 23, 1979) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder. She won the gold medal in the women's 200-meter butterfly at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, becoming the first American woman to win the event since 1960. Her victory ended Australian swimmer Susie O'Neill's six-year unbeaten streak in the event. Hyman swam collegiately for Stanford University and twice won the Honda Sports Award for Swimming and Diving. She later became a coach, serving as head swim coach at her former high school and later as an assistant coach for Arizona State University's swimming and diving team.

Early life and education

Hyman was born in Mesa, Arizona. She graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Hyman trained with the AFOX swim club under coach Bob Gillett. Gillett was not present at the final of the women’s 200-meter butterfly at the 2000 Summer Olympics, where Hyman won the gold medal.

She attended Stanford University, under Hall of Fame Coach Richard Quick where she swam for the Stanford Cardinal swimming and diving team with Jessica Foschi. During this time, she befriended Chelsea Clinton, who was watching in the stands in Sydney when Hyman won gold. She graduated from Stanford in 2002

Competitive career In March 1996, she just missed making the U.S. Olympic team for the 1996 Games, finishing third and fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly events. Hyman competed as a member of the U.S. Finswimming Team at the 8th World Championship held in Hungary during August 1996.

She twice received the Honda Sports Award for Swimming and Diving, recognizing her as the outstanding college female swimmer of the year in 1997–98 and again in 2000–01.

In 2000, Hyman was ranked 35th in the world in the 50-meter butterfly, twelfth in the 100-meter butterfly, and second in the 200-meter butterfly.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Hyman was only expected to contend for silver in women's 200-meter butterfly on the night of September 20, 2000, as Australian Susie O'Neill was expected to repeat her title (O'Neill had been undefeated in the 200-meter butterfly for the previous 6 years; and was swimming in her home country). Hyman's victory in the event was largely credited to her expert use of the very difficult fish kick on turns. She later established a private pool where she also provides swim instruction.

In 2015, Hyman was named an assistant coach at Arizona State University's swimming and diving team.