Brooke Bennett

Brooke Bennett was a distance freestyler who won three gold medals at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. Bennett won the 800 freestyle both years and added the 400 free in 2000. She also won the 800 at the 1998 World Championships, adding a bronze medal in the event at the 1994 Worlds. Bennett won silver medals at the 1998 Worlds in the 400 freestyle and the 4x200 free relay.

Bennett’s dominance of the distance freestyle events was most evident at the Pan Pacific Championships. He won six gold medals and eight medals between 1995 and 1999, winning the 400 freestyle in 1995 and 1999, the 800 freestyle in 1997 and 1999, and the 1,500 freestyle in 1995 and 1997. She also added silver medals in the 800 in 1995 and the 400 in 1997. Bennett competed at the 1995 Pan American Games, winning gold in the 400 freestyle and silver in the 800 freestyle. She also won 14 US Championships during her career.

Bennett later became a sports broadcaster with the Bright House Sports Network. However, she stepped away from that career to open and run the Brooke Bennett Swim Academy, teaching children how to swim and be water safe.