We're covering the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials all week.Just like we saw four years ago, NBC's swimming coverage this August will be the Michael Phelps show once again--and with him winning his fifth and final event at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. it's obvious why. Phelps will head to Beijing with a legitimate shot at breaking Mark Spitz' record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics. With three relays, Phelps is entered in eight events.
But Saturday's Trials action also showed who else we'll be seeing wall-to-wall coverage of next month. If you haven't paid much attention to swimming since 2004, you might not have heard much about Katie Hoff, but if you watch next month's Olympic coverage, Hoff will become a household name.
If it wasn't for the fact that she doesn't swim as many relays as Phelps, Hoff would also be taking a run at Spitz' record. Hoff set an American record in the 800 meter freestyle to go a perfect 5-for-5, winning all of her events at the trials as well. Hoff will swim only one relay in Beijing, giving her a shot at winning six medals. Hoff won the 800 meter free by five seconds over second place Kate Zeigler as she simply blew the field away.
And we'll be hearing plenty about Dara Torres, the 41-year-old who has followed up her win in the 100 meter freestyle by setting another American record in the 50 meter freestyle semifinals. Torres has to wait until tonight to try to qualify in the 50 meter free, but she'll be considered one of the favorites.
In swimming's version of a drag race, Garrett Weber-Gale set an American record in the men's 50 meter freestyle with a time of 21.47, topping Cullen Jones' record that was set just a day before. Jones went from record-holder to out of the running, as he finished third behind Ben Wildman-Tobriner.
Phelps final event of the Trials was the 100 meter butterfly, where he edged his top rival, Ian Crocker, although Crocker did earn the second Olympic bid. And Margaret Hoelzer won the women's 200 meter backstroke in world record time. Her 2:06.09 was a second better than second-place Elizabeth Beisel. At 15, Beisel will be the youngest member of the U.S. swim team.
