Olympic Trials Preview: Women's 100 Meter Breaststroke

Over the next few days we will be previewing the races that will take place at the U.S Olympic Swimming Trials.

Women's 100 Meter Breaststroke

What to watch for: Power and precision are absolutely essential for the 100 meter breaststroke. Look for swimmers with long strokes who are low to the water and look more like a master jeweler than a frog. A unique part of a breaststroke take is the underwater pullout. Swimmers are allowed a single stroke underwater off of the start and each wall and athletes who are efficient at the underwater pullout will have an advantage over those who do not.


What it takes: The ability to adjust one's stroke mid-race is a difficult and valuable one. The swimmer who can judge the perfect distance to a wall will have the advantage over the swimmer who cannot. A swimmer who shorts a wall will be slow off the turn and at a disadvantage the rest of the race.

Unlikely underdogs: Although she likely will not make the Olympic team this year, twelfth seed and Olympic veteran Amanda Beard (pictured) is always one to watch in the pool. Beard's precision always makes her a contender.

My prediction: NCAA superstar Tara Kirk will finally get a shot at an individual Olympic medal and she'll be joined by American record holder Jessica Hardy.