Beard Leaving Arizona to Turn Professional

Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard of Irvine has turned professional, giving up her final two years of college eligibility at Arizona.

Beard, 19, signed with Raleigh, N.C.-based PMG Sports, which also represents Sydney U.S. Olympic swimmers Brooke Bennett, Misty Hyman and Josh Davis.

Beard will appear at clinics and PMG is exploring endorsement and commercial opportunities for her.

“She’s a lot like Janet Evans,” PMG President Evan Morgenstein said. “The American public feels like they’ve almost grown up with her.”

Beard won a bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the Sydney Olympics, which followed a three-medal performance in the 1996 Olympics. In Atlanta, Beard, then 14, won two silvers and took the gold in a relay.

She will take the fall semester off from school, but will stay in racing shape by training with Dave Salo, an Irvine-based coach.