U.S. Olympic swimmer and gluten-free athlete Dana Vollmer not only took home the gold medal in the 100m butterfly, but also set a world record in the process, finishing the race in 55.98 seconds.

This major success comes just four years after Vollmer failed to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Plagued by injuries and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, Vollmer was unable to qualify. Now that her injuries are healed and she has adopted the gluten-free diet, Vollmer is looking stronger than ever, and proved it with her impressive first place finish.

After failing to make the 2008 team, Vollmer debated her entire swimming career and whether she even wanted to continue on in the sport. After breaking the 56.06 second record set by Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, Vollmer said, “I’m on top of the world right now. I still know I can go faster.”

Vollmer has helped launch the medically necessary gluten-free diet into the public eye through her openness about her condition and the strength she is exhibiting now that she’s feeling healthy again. She is an official spokesperson for Crunchmaster, a gluten-free manufacturer, and is sponsored by Venice Bakery, which makes gluten-free pizza crusts. Both companies are members of NFCA’s GREAT Business Association.

Visit Boston.com for more on Dana Vollmer’s big win and other Olympic swimming updates.

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