Rebecca is one of the finest swimmers the world has ever seen in the breaststroke category.
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Not many swimmers have made the kind of impact, Rebecca Soni has achieved in the breaststroke category. The six-time Olympic medalist has made the category her own, winning numerous medals on the same. The former swimmer broke many records en route to dominate the swimming world. Her perseverance and determination has been the key factors in Rebecca’s consistent performance at the highest level. With 22 medals in international competitions, the American has left a career worthy of remembering.
After taking her first shot at the US Olympic Team Trials in 2004, Rebecca had her breakthrough in 2008. Following the Silver in the 100m breaststroke, her spotlight moment came in the 200m breaststroke. Upsetting the favourite Leisel Jones of Australia, the American won her maiden Gold. The victory against all-odds instantly made Soni a favourite among the fans. She wrapped up the Olympics with a 4×100 m medley relay Silver.
The American marched forward to assert her dominance in major tournaments. The Gold and Silver in the 2009 World Championships prompted the Swimming World Magazine to name her as the American Swimmer of the Year. The 2011 World Championships in Shangai turned out to be even better for Rebecca. She impressively won three Gold medals – 100m and 200m breaststroke, and 4×100m medley.
Following her fireworks in the World Championships, Soni could not have hoped for a better way to enter the 2012 London Olympics. Starting in the same fashion as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rebecca settled for a Silver in the 100m breaststroke. She then won the 200m breaststroke Gold in emphatic fashion, becoming the first female to successfully defend her title in the event. Next came the 4×100-meter medley relay Gold, which was the icing on the cake for her.
She was forced to take a time off to recover from her back injury. In her absence, Rebecca’s records still continued to pose serious questions for upcoming swimmers. Among the many records, she is notably the first woman to swim the 200-meter breaststroke in under 2 minutes 20 seconds.
Soni’s achievements are aplenty and her records are numerous. She reached unbelievable heights in the swimming world, becoming a role medal for budding female athletes. The specialist breaststroke swimmer possessed the necessary skillset required to rule the world, which she made the most of in her splendid career. Rebecca will forever be remembered as one of the best swimmers of her generation.
