Natalie Coughlin

U.S. swimmer Natalie Coughlin competes in the 100-meter women's butterfly during the Santa Clara International Grand Prix at George F. Haines International Swim Center on June 1, 2012, in Santa Clara, Calif. Coughlin won a gold, two silver and three bronze medals in Beijing in 2008 and two golds, two silvers and a bronze in Athens in 2004.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Swimmers Natalie Coughlin, left, and Elizabeth Pelton, right, compete in Heat 17 of the women's 100-meter backstroke of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on June 26, 2012, in Omaha, Neb. Coughling had medaled in every Olympic event she has entered and needs just two more medals to claim the titled of the U.S.'s most decorated female swimming Olympian.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin swims in the warm-up pool during the Santa Clara International Grand Prix at George F. Haines International Swim Center on June 1, 2012, in Santa Clara, Calif. She is the first woman in Olympic history to successfully win back-to-back Gold Medals in the 100-meter backstroke

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin dives off of the starting block at the start of preliminary heat 13 of the Women's 100-meter freestyle during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 29, 2012, in Omaha, Neb. Born Aug 23, 1982, Coughlin lives in California, where she has taken up surfing and adopted an eco-friendly liefstyle..

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin competes in preliminary heat 17 of the Women's 100-meter backstroke during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 26, 2012, in Omaha, Neb. With partner Alec Mazzo, Coughlin competed on season 9 of "Dancing With the Stars" and was eliminated in the fifth episode.

Special section: The 2012 London Games
Pictures: Dancing with the Stars Season 9

Natalie Coughlin competes in preliminary heat 17 of the Women's 100-meter backstroke during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 26, 2012, in Omaha, Neb.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin competes in the first semifinal heat of the Women's 100-meter butterfly during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 25, 2012, in Omaha, Neb.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

U.S. gold medalists Natalie Coughlin, left, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer and Melissa Franklin celebrate on the podium during the award ceremony for the final of the women's 4x100-meter medley relay swimming event in the FINA World Championships at the indoor stadium of the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on July 30, 2011.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

In a picture taken with an underwater camera, Natalie Coughlin competes in the heats of the women's 100-meter freestyle swimming event in the FINA World Championships at the indoor stadium of the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China, on July 28, 2011.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin reacts after winning the bronze medal in the Women's 100-meter backstroke final of the 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 26, 2011, in Shanghai, China.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin starts in the Women's 100-meter backstroke final duringthe 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 26, 2011, in Shanghai, China.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin competes in the Women's 100-meter backstroke final of the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex on Dec. 16, 2010, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin celebrates after winning the Women's 100-meter backstroke final of the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex on Dec. 16, 2010, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin starts in the blocks for the Women's 200-meter Individual Medley Semifinal held at the National Aquatics Center during the2008 Olympic Games on Aug.12, 2008, in Beijing.

Special section: The 2012 London Games

Natalie Coughlin competes in the Women's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay final held at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Olympic Games on Aug. 14, 2008, in Beijing.

With professional dance partner Alec Mazzo, Coughlin competed on season 9 of "Dancing With the Stars" and was eliminated in the fifth episode.

Special section: The 2012 London Games
Pictures: Dancing with the Stars Season 9