Lindsay Benko


Lindsay Dianne Benko, also known by her married name as Lindsay Mintenko, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder. She represented the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. She held the short-course world record in the 400-meter freestyle for nearly three years from January 2003 to December 2005.

Early years

Benko attended the Stanley Clark School in South Bend, Indiana, for her elementary education. Upon graduating from Stanley Clark, she attended Elkhart Central High School in Elkhart, Indiana, where she was "the first swimmer in IHSAA history to sweep two individual events all four years while piling up All-American honors."

Swimming career

At the 2000 Olympics, Benko was a member of the USA's gold-medal-winning 4×200-meter freestyle relay. Four years later at the 2004 Olympics, she earned gold swimming in the heats of the 4×200 m freestyle relay and silver swimming the heats of the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

Acting career

In 2000, Benko played herself in an episode of The Jersey called "Sophomore Year" where Morgan Hudson fights to have girls soccer reinstated after it was canceled, Nick Lighter uses a magical jersey by jumping into her body as he wins the race and uses a news crew to promote his cousin's attempt to save girls soccer at the school with a fundraising car wash.

Personal life and management career

In 2005, Benko married Canadian swimmer Mike Mintenko. She uses her married name professionally. She previously worked for USA Swimming as the national team managing director. In 2017, she became the first woman to lead USA Swimming’s National Team Division.