Madam Butterfly

Mary T. Meagher (born in October 27th, 1964) is an American swimming legend and one of the greatest butterfly swimmers ever. In 1979 she broke her first world record in the 200m butterfly and was ready to race for her first Olympic medals at the 1980 Games in Moscow. However, Meagher, along with the rest of the United States Olympic Team, never gor her chance due to the American led boycott of the Games.

Her performance at the 1981 U.S. Nationals remains her greatest effort (and among the greatest sport performances ever) when she set world records in both the 200m (2:05.96) and 100m  (57.93) butterfly. These records were considered astonishing, especially the 100m record which was dropped for over a second. Both world records lasted until 1999 where American swimmer Jenny Thompson broke the 100m fly record and Susie O'Neill from Australia set the record in the 200m fly a year later. These two records were among the most impressive records ever set in sports and gave Meagher the title of the Female World Swimmer of the Year, which she again won in 1985.

At the 1984 Games in Los Angeles she won three gold medals (100m fly, 200m fly, 4x100m medley relay) and in the 1988 Games in Seoul she won a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly. By the time she decided to retire she had won 24 U.S. national swimming titles.

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