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Sports Illustrated Names Top-5 Athletes in All States; Michael Phelps Leads Several Swimmers on Lists
With the United States celebrating its 250th birthday on Saturday, Sports Illustrated unveiled a special project in which it identified the five-best athletes from each of the 50 states. In the end, 250 athletes were recognized, a number that matched the number of years America has been a country.
While stars from the major sports dominated the list, several swimmers were honored. Here’s a look at the swimmers who made the Sports Illustrated list.
Alaska
- Lydia Jacoby was slotted in the No. 5 position, thanks to her gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke from the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Jacoby was the first Alaskan swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Games and claimed victory in Tokyo over South African Tatjana Schoenmaker and American Lilly King.
Colorado
- A six-time Olympic medalist during her career, Amy Van Dyken was ranked third among Colorado athletes. At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Van Dyken collected a quartet of gold medals, highlighted by individual titles in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2007.
Hawaii
- Of the five Hawaiian athletes recognized, two were swimmers – Duke Kahanamoku (No. 1) and Buster Crabbe (No. 4). Considered the Father of Modern Surfing, Kahanamoku was the Olympic champion in the 100 freestyle in 1912 and 1920. As for Crabbe, he was a two-time Olympic medalist, including gold in the 400 freestyle in 1932. He followed by enjoying a highly successful career as a Hollywood actor.
Kentucky
- Rated No. 2 from Kentucky was Mary T. Meagher, who can only be described as ahead of her time in the butterfly events. Meagher broke multiple records in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly during her career, with her standards enduring for well over a decade. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Meagher was a three-time gold medalist.
Maryland
- Only legendary slugger Babe Ruth prevented a sweep of the top-two positions in Maryland by swimmers, as Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky checked in at second and third from their home state. Phelps, of course, is a 28-time Olympic medalist, with 23 of those medals golden in color. As for Ledecky, the four-time Olympic champ in the 800 freestyle continues to star on the road to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
New Hampshire
- Between four Olympic appearances (1992-2004), Jenny Thompson piled up 12 Olympic medals, one of the highest totals in history. Thompson is the second-ranked athlete on the New Hampshire list and will be remembered for her prowess as a sprint freestyler and butterflyer, and as one of the most clutch relay performers in the sport’s history.
Oregon
- Sitting atop the list of all-time great Oregon athletes is Don Schollander, whose freestyle talent spanned multiple distances and carried him to six Olympic medals between the 1964 and 1968 Games. At the 1964 Olympics, Schollander was the gold medalist in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle, and would have been heavily favored in the 200 freestyle if the event had been part of the Olympic program.
Rhode Island
- Earning recognition from Rhode Island as its fifth-ranked top athlete in history is Elizabeth Beisel, who was a staple for Team USA in international competitions during the 2010s. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Beisel claimed the silver medal in the 400 individual medley and added a bronze medal in the 200 backstroke. She was the gold medalist in the 400 IM at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
Tennessee
- Perhaps the greatest all-around female swimmer in history, Tracy Caulkins captured the No. 4 slot for Tennessee. Caulkins excelled across all strokes and multiple distances during her career, which was punctuated with gold medals in the 200 individual medley and 400 IM at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At various points in her career, Caulkins owned world records in the 200 butterfly, 200 IM and 400 IM.
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