Belote, Melissa
Swimming
b. Oct. 16, 1956, Washington, DC
Belote loved swimming but she hated getting chorine in her eyes, so she specialized in the backstroke. And she specialized well enough to win three gold medals at the 1972 Olympics.
The fifteen-year-old wasn't at all well known going into the U. S. Olympic trials, where she beat American record holder Susie Atwood in the 100-meter backstroke and set a world record of 2:20.64 in the 200-meter. She won both events at the Olympics, setting another world record of 2:19.19 in the 200-meter backstroke, and she also swam on the gold medal 4 by 100-meter medley relay team.
Belote won the AAU outdoor 100-meter backstroke in 1973, the outdoor 200-meter backstroke in 1973 and 1975, and the indoor 200-yard backstroke in 1973. As a student at Arizona State University, she also won four AIAW championships.