[3] She swam in college at Athen's University of Georgia under Head Women's Coach Jack Bauerle, specializing in the 100 and 200 backstroke, beginning around the fall of 1995 through May 2000, when she graduated.

[7][8] Amanda contributed to their victory and captained the NCAA championship University of Georgia team in 1999.

[12] Demonstrating the effectiveness of her training and justifying her high National rating in the event, Adkins won the finals of the 200-meter backstroke at the 2000 American Olympic Trials in Indianapolis on August 15, 2000 with a time of 2:12.97.2.

Her time made her one of only two qualifiers for the event, along with Lindsay Benko, who would later receive the Olympic gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay at Sydney.

Team at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, in the women's 200-meter backstroke, and was pleased to advance to the event finals.

[4][16] She also has coached a USA swimming youth age group club, now known as Pau Hana Swim Team, with an Olympic size pool at the large Trumbull Aquatic Center at Denison, where for a period she specialized in children under 8.