Lin Li

Until 1992, no Chinese swimmer had won gold at the Olympics, but that changed in Barcelona. One of the four titles that went to China was the 200 individual medley, which was won by Li Lin. Already a double finalist at the Seoul Olympics, Li became a double World Champion in Perth, winning both the 200 and 400 IMs. She could not repeat that performance in Barcelona. After being defeated by Krisztina Egerszegi in the longer event, she countered with a world record in the 200 IM (2:11.65), a performance that would remain unbeaten for five years. She also won a silver in the breaststroke, and reached the B-final in the backstroke, proving her versatility. Eclipsed by compatriots at the 1994 World Championships, she returned to win a bronze medal in the 200 individual medley at the Atlanta Games, retiring a year later. She settled in the United States, where she is a swimming coach in San Jose, California. When the Olympic torch relay passed through San Francisco for the 2008 Games, she was one of the runners to carry the flame.