Melissa Louise Belote is an Olympic and former World Record holding backstroke

Backstroke

The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...

 swimmer from the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. She swam for her native country at the 1972

United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics

The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...

 and 1976 Olympics

United States at the 1976 Summer Olympics

The United States competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. 396 competitors, 278 men and 118 women, took part in 189 events in 19 sports.-Medalists:...

.

At 15 years of age she won three gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games

Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics

The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich, West Germany, 29 events in swimming were contested. There was a total of 532 participants from 52 countries competing....

; in the 100m backstroke Belote defeated her American teammate and record holder Susan Atwood

Susan Atwood

Susan Atwood is an American former swimmer, who won two medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Germany. Before those Olympics, she held the world record in the 200 metre backstroke, though her record was broken by gold medalist Melissa Belote in Munich.Atwood was inducted into the...

. In the 200m Backstroke, Belote set a World Record (2:19.19).

She retired from the sport in 1979. Four years later she was inducted in 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...

.

She currently coaches swim and dive at McClintock High School

McClintock High School

McClintock High School is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. McClintock moved to the Arizona 4A Conference beginning with the 2001-02 school year...

 in Tempe, AZ and coaches for Rio Salado Swim Team.
Her assistant coach is Caleb Stodghill. Her favorite swimmers are Ashley Grijalva, Cameron Clark, Nick Quon, and Zoe Vela.

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