Melissa Louise BELOTE

Apart from Shane Gould, the 15-year-old Melissa Belote was the only woman swimmer to win more than one individual title in München. She went to the U.S. Final Trials as a little known outsider, but beat the U.S. record holder, Susie Atwood, in the 100m backstroke and then took the 200m after setting a world record in the heats. At the 1972 Olympics she again set a world record in the 200m and the following year she won the 200m backstroke at the World Championships. In 1976 she made the Olympic team for the second time and placed fifth in the 200m. In her collegiate career at Arizona State, Belote collected four AIAW titles. After graduating with a degree in communications she returned to Virginia, where she had swum for the Solotar Swim Team, and as Mrs. Hamlin took the post of assistant head coach at Solotar.