If you look at the last two years of women's swimming, one competitor has come out of nowhere to dominate the field. Her name is Rebecca Soni and many people are tipping her to be the best female swimmer ever to hit the water. The American breaststroker has smashed records and hauled medals on her rapid climb to the top and, at age 24 and already two consecutive World Swimmer of Year titles beneath her belt, there is no telling how high she can go.

The story of Soni's rise is truly the stuff of sport's movie legend. As a young 17 year old Soni had failed to qualify for both the 2004 Olympic and 2005 World Championship squads by a pretty wide margin. The following year she had to undergo surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat. By the time the qualifications for the 2008 Olympic team came around Soni was not one of the favourites to achieve rank. The pundits were proven right when Soni finished fourth, two places behind qualifying. Fate, however, smiled on Soni as the second and third place competitors withdrew from the team, opening up a place for her on the squad.

In the Beijing games that year Soni stunned the world by upsetting the heavily favoured Australian Leisel Jones in the 200 metre breaststroke to take the gold, while simultaneously smashing Jones' world record. She also took home two silvers in the 100 metre breaststroke and the relay. Soni had, against all odds, announced herself on the world stage.

Since then success has compounded success. She took both the 100 metre and 200 metre breaststroke at the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships (winning the latter by a staggering 5 seconds), she took 3 golds and a silver home from the 2010 FINA Short Course World Championships and another 3 golds at the 2011 World Championships.