Cynthia Woodhead
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Woodhead (born 7 February 1964) is an American
swimmer
, world champion, olympic medalist and world record holder. She won three gold medals at the 1978 world championships, when she was only fourteen years old. She set seven world records during her career.
, 4x100 m freestyle relay and 4x100 m medley
relay) and two silver medals at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships
in Berlin
, when she was only 14 years old.
At the 1979 Pan American Games
in San Juan
she received five gold medals. She won the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle, as well as being part of the winning teams at the 4x100 m freestyle relay and 4x100 m medley relay.
Woodhead had qualified for six events at the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow
, and was regarded to be among the favorites in the four individual distances, as she was ranked world number one in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 800 m freestyle. Due to the American boycott of Moscow Olympics, she did not get the chance to participate. This was a great disappointment for her, and she has said that the boycott may have triggered her later health problems.
In late 1981 and 1982 she suffered from several health problems – mononucleosis
, a broken leg, and pneumonia
.
Woodhead competed at the 1984 Olympic Games
in Los Angeles
, where she received a silver medal in 200 m freestyle
.
She improved the world record in 50 metres freestyle
, long course, 10 April 1980, but the record was further improved by Jill Sterkel
the same day. She improved the world record in 200 metres freestyle
, long course, three times, in 1978 and 1979, her last result remained a world record until 1984. She was a member of the American team that held the world record in 4x100 metres freestyle relay
from 1978 to 1980.
1979. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, world champion, olympic medalist and world record holder. She won three gold medals at the 1978 world championships, when she was only fourteen years old. She set seven world records during her career.
Career
Woodhead received three gold medals (in the 200 m freestyleFreestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, 4x100 m freestyle relay and 4x100 m medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
relay) and two silver medals at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships
1978 World Aquatics Championships
The 1978 World Aquatics Championships took place in West Berlin, West Germany between August 20 and August 28, 1978.-Medals table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men-External links:***...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, when she was only 14 years old.
At the 1979 Pan American Games
1979 Pan American Games
The 8th Pan American Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15, 1979. The capital of Puerto Rico played host to 3,700 athletes from 34 countries competing in 22 sports, making the VIII Pan American Games the largest to date. Security was a concern due to turmoil over the...
in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
she received five gold medals. She won the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle, as well as being part of the winning teams at the 4x100 m freestyle relay and 4x100 m medley relay.
Woodhead had qualified for six events at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and was regarded to be among the favorites in the four individual distances, as she was ranked world number one in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 800 m freestyle. Due to the American boycott of Moscow Olympics, she did not get the chance to participate. This was a great disappointment for her, and she has said that the boycott may have triggered her later health problems.
In late 1981 and 1982 she suffered from several health problems – mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
, a broken leg, and pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.
Woodhead competed at the 1984 Olympic Games
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics, held at the McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, located on the USC campus. There was a total of 494 participants from 67 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where she received a silver medal in 200 m freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
.
She improved the world record in 50 metres freestyle
World record progression 50 metres freestyle
The first world record in the men's 50 metres freestyle in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1976...
, long course, 10 April 1980, but the record was further improved by Jill Sterkel
Jill Sterkel
Gillian "Jill" Sterkel is a former competitive freestyle swimmer for the United States of America. At the Olympic Games she won four medals in three Games spanning 12 years. She attended Glen A...
the same day. She improved the world record in 200 metres freestyle
World record progression 200 metres freestyle
This is a history of the World Record in the 200 Freestyle swimming event. Swimming World Records are recognized by FINA in either long-course or short-course pool courses....
, long course, three times, in 1978 and 1979, her last result remained a world record until 1984. She was a member of the American team that held the world record in 4x100 metres freestyle relay
World record progression 4x100 metres freestyle relay
Below is the world record progression for the 4×100 metres freestyle relay swimming event. Long course swimming records were recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908...
from 1978 to 1980.
Awards
Woodhead was selected USOC SportsWoman of the YearUSOC Athlete of the Year
The USOC Athlete of the Year awards are presented on an annual basis by the United States Olympic Committee to athletes who have distinguished themselves in one of the Olympic or Paralympic sports...
1979. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
in 1994.