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Van Dyken Wins Record 4th Gold

ATLANTA (AP) -- Amy Van Dyken was such a poor swimmer in high school that her teammates made fun of her. Now, she's getting the last laugh.

Van Dyken, an asthmatic who collapsed after her first Olympic final last weekend, became the first American female to win four gold medals at a single Olympics when she captured the 50-meter freestyle Friday night.

``To the girls that gave me a hard time in high school, I'd like to say thank you,'' Van Dyken said. ``I don't think I would have the drive I have if it wasn't for them.''

That steely determination helped the 23-year-old Coloradan recover after collapsing on the pool deck with painful leg cramps following her fourth-place finish in the 100-meter freestyle last Saturday.

She didn't lose another final after that, grabbing golds and glory in the 100 butterfly, 400 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay and 50 freestyle, where she beat world record-holder Le Jingyi of China and set an American record of 24.87.

Four golds in one Olympics. No U.S. woman -- not Janet Evans, not Jackie Joyner-Kersee, not Mary Lou Retton, not Bonnie Blair -- has ever done that in the Summer or Winter Games.

``This is a victory for all the nerds out there,'' said the 6-foot Van Dyken, who now has a giant reputation to match her giant size.

``I was 6-feet tall in high school. I towered over the crowd and I think that's why people picked on me. For all the kids out there struggling, if they can keep plugging away at it, something good will come out of it.''

Van Dyken briefly quit swimming in 1993 after a disappointing performance in the NCAA championships and a bout with mononucleosis. Now, she is an instant celebrity, ready to display her perky personality during scheduled TV chats with Jay Leno, Katie Couric and Oprah.

And what will viewers learn about Van Dyken?

For one, she has a dog that drinks coffee. After winning the 50 free, Van Dyken joked that she had just gotten a telegram from her pooch.

``It said, `Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations! -- one for each gold medal.' Then it said, `Love, Button.' I was really happy to know that my dog loves me.'''

Van Dyken also has a serious side, which is reflected in her knowledge of sign language. She learned the hand-language for the deaf at the University of Arizona, which she attended before transferring to Colorado State.

``I saw someone signing and it looked so beautiful,'' Van Dyken said. ``I always talk with my hands anyway, so why not make the most of it.''

During an interview with NBC's Bob Costas on Friday night, Van Dyken signed off with a message in sign language: ``Thank you America. You helped me make my dream come true.''

Van Dyken said she plans to take a ``really long break'' after the Olympics before deciding her swimming future.

``I've probably reached the pinnacle of my career,'' she said. ``Everything else from now on is going to be icing on the cake.''