Brooke Bennett

Class of: 2013

Sport: Swimming

Brooke Bennett is a native of Tampa, who began taking swimming lessons at the age of 3, and earned the nickname “waterbabi.” But it was when she was 16 that she became the known to the world as the sweetheart of the 1996 Summer Olympics, earning a gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle over Janet Evans.

She added golds in 2000 at Sydney in both 400 and 800 freestyle races. That year she was also named World America Swimmer of the Year.

Brook won 14 total U.S. swimming championships and earned a cover of a Wheaties box. She is a reporter for Bright House Sports Network with a focus on High School sports.

She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2010.