Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, USA; USA swimmer Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at the Beverly Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
When it comes to iconic prowess in the pool, few can match the career that Coughlin achieved during her run. She won 60 medals in international competitions—25 gold—and was a 12-time Olympic medallist. She broke records. She broke barriers. Simply put, Coughlin holds her own wing in the halls of great U.S. Female athletes.
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Natalie Coughlin
This picture taken with an underwater camera shows silver medallist Natalie Coughlin of the US competing in the women's 100m freestyle final at the 2015 Pan American Games on July 14, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)
Natalie Coughlin
Natalie Coughlin of the US walks off the pool deck after the Women's 4x100 Medley Relay Preliminaries at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada July 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Natalie Coughlin
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 02: Natalie Coughlin of USA, Emily Seebohm of Australia and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary celebrate on the podium after the women's 50m Backstroke final during day one of the FINA World Swimming Cup 2015 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre on November 2, 2015 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Natalie Coughlin
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 07: Swimmer Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait at the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 7, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Natalie Coughlin
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: 12-time Olympic and 20-time World Championship medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin speaks during the Anxiety On The Field of Play event on the Inspire Stage presented by Johnson & Johnson during the first day of Wellness Your Way Festival at the Duke Energy Convention Center on October 11, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images for Wellness Your Way Festival )
Natalie Coughlin
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - JUNE 24: Natalie Coughlin speaks during the 2022 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Hall Of Fame Ceremony on June 24, 2022 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Getty Images for USOPC)
Natalie Coughlin
June 29, 2007; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Natalie Coughlin (USA) before the women's 100-meter free style preliminaries of the Santa Clara International Invitational at the George F. Haines International Swim Center in Santa Clara, CA. Coughlin finished first in the women's 100-meter freestyle preliminaries. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2007 Kyle Terada
Natalie Coughlin
May 14, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Team USA women's swimmer Natalie Coughlin during a portrait session at the 2012 Team USA Media Summit at the Hilton Anatole. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
June 1, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Natalie Coughlin (USA) competes during the women's 100-meter butterfly preliminaries in the Santa Clara international grand prix at the George F. Haines International Swim Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
June 1, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Natalie Coughlin (USA) stretches during the Santa Clara international grand prix at the George F. Haines International Swim Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
June 1, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Natalie Coughlin (USA) warms up in the practice pool during the Santa Clara international grand prix at the George F. Haines International Swim Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
June 25, 2012; Omaha, NE, USA; Natalie Coughlin competes in the finals for the women's 100m butterfly in the 2012 U.S. Olympic swimming team trials at the CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
June 30, 2012; Omaha, NE, USA; Natalie Coughlin prior to competing in the womens 200m breaststroke final in the 2012 U.S. Olympic swimming team trials at the CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Sep 23, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; United States olympic womens swimmer Natalie Coughlin is recognized at halftime of the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders at the O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
November 02, 2012; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears alumnus olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin during the first quarter against the Washington Huskies at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Aug 10, 2014; Irvine, CA, USA; Natalie Coughlin reacts after placing sixth in the womens 50m freestyle in 24.97 in the 2014 USA National Championships at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Jul 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Natalie Coughlin of the United States waves to the crowd before the women's 100m freestyle swimming final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Jul 17, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Natalie Coughlin of the United States poses with her bronze medal after the women's 50m freestyle final the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, USA; USA swimmer Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at the Beverly Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Team USA swimming athlete Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at Beverly Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Jun 27, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Natalie Coughlin during the women's 100m backstroke preliminary heats in the U.S. Olympic swimming team trials at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Team USA swimming athlete Natalie Coughlin poses for a portrait during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at Beverly Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
Jul 28, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Natalie Coughlin (USA) prepares to compete in her leg of a women's 4x100m freestyle relay heat during the 2012 London Olympic Games at Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Coughlin
CHARTRES, FRANCE - AUGUST 15: Natalie Coughlin of the United States of America prepares to compet in the Women's 50m Backstroke Finals on day one of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2015 the on August 15, 2015 in Chartres, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Legendary U.S. Swimmer Natalie Coughlin in images