Home
Athletes
Janet Evans

Janet Evans

Biographical information

Roles	Competed in Olympic Games • Torch Bearer
Sex	Female
Full name	Janet Beth•Evans (-Wilson)
Used name	Janet•Evans
Born	28 August 1971 in Fullerton, California (USA)
Measurements	167 cm / 54 kg
Affiliations	USC Trojans, Los Angeles (USA)
NOC	👁 Image United States

Medals	OG
Gold	4
Silver	1
Bronze	0
Total	5

Biography

Janet Evans was the greatest female long-distance swimmer of her time. She first came to prominence at the 1986 Goodwill Games, and she entered the 1988 Olympics as the world record holder in the 400 metres, 800 metres, and 1,500 metres. She did not disappoint, improving her own world record in winning the 400 metres in addition to taking gold medals in the 800 metres and the 400 metre individual medley. On her second Olympic appearance in 1992 she successfully defended her 800 metres title but suffered her first defeat in the 400 metres since 1986 when she placed second to Dagmar Hase (GER). Evans competed at the 1996 Olympics but was past her prime and failed to win a medal in the 400 or 800 metre freestyle. Her greatest years were from 1987-89, when she set two world records over 400 metres, two at 800 metres, and two at 1,500 metres. Between 1986-1995 she won 25 of 27 major international races over 400 metres and 22 of 23 over 800 metres. Evans’s world records for the 800, and 1,500 metre freestyle events were not bettered for 20 years, and her 400 metre world record was only broken in 2006.

Results

Games	Discipline (Sport) / Event	NOC / Team	Pos
1988 Summer Olympics	Swimming (Aquatics)	👁 Image USA	Janet Evans
400 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic)	1	Gold
800 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic)	1	Gold
400 metres Individual Medley, Women (Olympic)	1	Gold
1992 Summer Olympics	Swimming (Aquatics)	👁 Image USA	Janet Evans
400 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic)	2	Silver
800 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic)	1	Gold
1996 Summer Olympics	Swimming (Aquatics)	👁 Image USA	Janet Evans
400 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic)	17
800 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic)	6

Other participations

Games	Role	NOC	As
1996 Summer Olympics	Torchbearer at the Opening Ceremony (Torch bearer within stadium)	👁 Image USA	Janet Evans

List mentions

Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships (12–2–0 1987 Brisbane gold: 400 m freestyle and 400 m medley, silver: 800 m freestyle; 1989 Tokyo gold: 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle, 400 m medley, and 4×200 m freestyle relay; 1991 Edmonton gold: 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle, and 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 200 m freestyle; 1993 Kobe gold: 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle, and 4×200 m freestyle relay)
Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short-Course Swimming Championships (25 m) (2–0–1 1993 Palma de Mallorca gold: 400 m freestyle and 800 m freestyle, bronze: 4×200 m freestyle relay)
Listed in Olympic Swimmers - Doubles Champions, Same Year (1988 Distance Freestyle Double Champion (400/800).)
Listed in Olympians Who Were Awarded the James E. Sullivan Award (1989)
Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships (3–1–1 1991 Perth SWI gold: 400 m freestyle and 800 m freestyle, silver: 200 m freestyle; 1994 Roma SWI gold: 800 m freestyle, bronze: 4×200 m freestyle relay)
Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (400 m freestyle – 20 December 1987 - 12 May 2006: 4:05.45 (20 December 1987; Orlando, USA), 4:03.85 (22 September 1988; Seoul, KOR); 800 m freestyle – 27 July 1987 - 19 August 1987 and 22 March 1988 - 16 August 2008: 8:22.44 (27 July 1987; Fresno, USA), 8:17.12 (22 March 1988; Orlando, USA), 8:16.22 (20 August 1989; Tokyo, JPN); 1500 m freestyle – 31 July 1987 - 17 June 2007: 16:00.73 (31 July 1987; Fresno, USA), 15:52.10 (26 March 1988; Orlando, USA))
Listed in Swimmers who successfully defended their Olympic title in the same event in back-to-back Games (800 metres Freestyle, Women: Seoul 1988/Barcelona 1992)