1984
Los Angeles
Olympic Games
First Olympic gold — the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay.
Gallery
Olympics
Photographs from the Olympic years.The attribution shown below is as Getty Images has provided.
Timeline
The Career
Four years that defined an Olympic era.
01 02 1988
Seoul
Olympic Games
Seven medals in one Games, including gold in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
03 1991
Perth
World Championships
The world stage between Olympic years.
04 1992
Barcelona
Olympic Games
Final Olympic chapter — two more relay golds, and silver in the 50 free.
CIRCA 1980's: Swimmer Matt Biondi competes circa mid 1980's. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesUNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1984: Swimmer Matt Biondi of the United States competes in an swimming event circa 1984. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesUNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1984: Swimmer Matt Biondi of the United States competes in an swimming event circa 1984. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesLos Angeles, CA - 1984: (L-R) Chris Cavanaugh, Matt Biondi, Michael Heath, Rowdy Gaines, Men's Swimming 4 × 100 metre medley relay medal ceremony, McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, at the 1984 Summer Olympics, August 4, 1984. (Photo by Ken Regan /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesLos Angeles, CA - 1984: (L-R) Michael Heath, Matt Biondi, Rowdy Gaines, Men's Swimming 4 × 100 metre medley relay competition, McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, at the 1984 Summer Olympics, August 4, 1984. (Photo by Ken Regan /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1985: Matt Biondi dives into the water.
Embed from Getty Images1985: Matt Biondi swims during a race.
Embed from Getty ImagesGold medallist Matt Biondi of the USA in action in the men's 100 metres freestyle event during the World Swimming Championships in Madrid, circa August 1986. (Photo by Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images1987: Matt Biondi swims during the US Swimming Nationals.
Embed from Getty ImagesAmerican swimmer Matt Biondi trains for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. (Photo by Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesAmerican swimmer Matt Biondi trains for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. (Photo by Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesUndated: Matt Biondi swims during a race.
Embed from Getty ImagesUndated: Matt Biondi dives into the water during a race.
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi in action during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi competes in a freestyle event during the Meet of Champions in June 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi of the USA relaxes between races during the Meet of Champions held in Mission Viejo, California in June 1988. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi in action during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi of the USA competes in a butterfly event during the Meet of Champions held in Mission Viejo, California in June 1988. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JUNE 1988: Matt Biondi smiles during the Meet of Champions in June, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt Biondi, gold medallist in the men's 100 metres freestyle event, during the World Swimming Championships in Madrid, circa August 1986. (Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt Biondi of the United States celebrates winning the Men's 200 metres Freestyle Relay final with teammate Troy Dalbey on 17th September 1988 during the XXIV Summer Olympic Games at the Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images22 SEP 1988: MATT BIONDI IN ACTION ON THE STARTING BLOCKS DURING THE 100 METER FREESTYLE COMPETITION AT THE 1988 SEOUL SUMMER OLYMPICS. BIONDI WON THE GOLD WITH AN OLYMPIC RECORD TIME OF 48.63.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt Biondi of the United States swimming in the Men's 100 metres Freestlye final on 22 September 1988 during the XXIV Summer Olympic Games at the Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesAmerican swimmer Matt Biondi celebrates after finishing in first place to win the gold medal for United States in the Men's 100m freestyle event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in the Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul, South Korea on 22nd September 1988. (Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMedallists in the men's 50m freestyle event on the podium at the Summer Olympic in Seoul, South Korea, 24th September 1988. Left to right: Tom Jager of the USA (silver), Matt Biondi of the USA (gold) and Gennadiy Prigoda of the Soviet Union (bronze). (Photo by Brunskill/Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images24 SEP 1988: MATT BIONDI OF THE UNITED STATES LEAPS OUT OF THE WATER IN CELEBRATION AFTER WINNING THE MENS 50 METRES FREESTYLE EVENT AT THE 1988 SEOUL OLYMPICS. BIONDI WON THE EVENT IN A TIME OF 22.14 SETTING A NEW WORLD RECORD.
Embed from Getty Images24 SEP 1988: MATT BIONDI OF THE UNITED STATES PUNCHES THE AIR IN CELEBRATION AFTER WINNING THE MENS 50 METRES FREESTYLE EVENT AT THE 1988 SEOUL OLYMPICS. BIONDI SMASHED THE WORLD RECORD WITH A TIME OF 22.14 SECONDS.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt Biondi of the USA. (Photo by RENARD eric/Corbis via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesJan 1991: Matt Biondi of the USA at the World Swimming Championships in Perth, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Simon Bruty/Allsport
Embed from Getty ImagesA portrait of Matt Biondi of the United States during the Men's 100 metre freestyle event at the VI FINA World Swimming Championships on 13 January 1991 at the Claremont Superdrome in Perth, Australian. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesUS swimmers Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi during a swimming competition. Spitz defeated Biondi. (Photo by Richard Perry/Sygma via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMISSION VIEJO, CA - JULY 1991: Matt Biondi swims a butterfly event during the Santa Clara International Meet held in July 1991 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt Biondi, USA, silver medallist (Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Images28 Jul 1992: Matt Biondi of the USA waits for his swim during the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
Embed from Getty ImagesSEOUL - SEPTEMBER 29: Jon Olsen (shaved head), Tom Jager (at rear), Matt Biondi (at right), and Joe Hudepohl (back to camera) of the United States congratulate each other after winning the Men's 4 x 100 meters freestyle relay swimming race at the 1992 Olympic Games on September 29, 1992 at the Piscines Bernat Picornell in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesSEOUL - SEPTEMBER 29: Jon Olsen (shaved head), Tom Jager (at rear), Matt Biondi (at right), and Joe Hudepohl (back to camera) of the United States congratulate each other after winning the Men's 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay swimming race at the 1992 Olympic Games on September 29, 1992 at the Piscines Bernat Picornell in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty ImagesSEOUL - SEPTEMBER 29: (L-R) Jon Olsen, Tom Jager, Matt Biondi, and Joe Hudepohl of the United States receive their gold medals in the Men's 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay swimming event of the 1992 Olympic Games on September 29, 1992 at the Piscines Bernat Picornell in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
Embed from Getty Imagesunknown: Matt Biondi of the USA breaks the 100m free style world record during the United States Nationals. Mandatory credit: Tony Duffy/Allsport
Embed from Getty Imagesunknown: A portrait of Matt Biondi, USA swimmer. Mandatory credit: Simon Bruty/Allsport
Embed from Getty Images