Olympics: Swimming
Amy Shipley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 13, 2004; Noon ET
Local athlete Michael Phelps is aiming to make history at the Olympics.
He plans to swim in five individual races and three relays and could possibly win eight gold medals. Phelps holds the world records for the 200 and 400 meter individual medleys as well as the 200 butterfly. He is one of many strong medal contenders in the U.S. swimming team. The women's swim team includes Natalie Coughlin and Amanda Beard. Coughlin holds the world record for 100 backstroke and could win the 100 freestyle while Beard holds the 200 breaststroke world record.
Post columnist Amy Shipley was online Friday, Aug. 13, at Noon ET to discuss the possible gold medal sweep by the U.S. swim team at the Olympics.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Washington, D.C.:
With all the talk about Michael Phelps, I've been wondering what has become of the most famous swimmer from the Olympics four years ago: Ian Thorpe. Will the Thorpedo be competing in Athens? Is he favored to win anything?
Thanks for taking my question!
Amy Shipley: Ian Thorpe is back and he is considered a favorite to win the men's 200 freestyle, which might be the most anticipated swimming event of the Olympics (it takes place on Monday). Thorpe still holds the world record in the event, but he will have to fend off Phelps, not to mention Pieter van den Hoogenband, who upset Phelps in Sydney. Phelps is also a favorite in the 400 free...
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Washington, D.C.:
The hype over Michael Phelps is absurd, driven entirely by NBC's desire to sell advertising time, Speedo's desire to sell swim suits, and perhaps the Post's desire to increase circulation. All one has to do is look at Phelp's competition to know that there's no way he's going to win seven gold medals, let alone eight. He's got to defeat four world record holders to come up with eight golds (Crocker in the 100 fly, Thorpe in the 200 free, and the Austrialians in the 4x100 and 4x200 free relays). It'll be an exceptional meet for him if he wins five golds, a good one if he wins four. Agree?
Amy Shipley: Actually, yes, at least with much of what you say. I especially agree about the 100 fly race against Crocker. No. 1, he is NOT the favorite and No. 2, if he loses, he won't get the IM relay spot, which kills a chance for another gold. So it will be tough to win six, let alone eight. He has a really good shot in the 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM, but everything else is up for grabs. The U.S. team is certainly not a favorite in the freestyle relays, as you pointed out. He's more likely to win three golds than eight, though I think it's an awesome quest and wouldn't miss a minute of it.
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Washington, D.C.:
To be perfectly blunt, one of the main reasons I watch the men's swimming events is because of the sex appeal! That, however, has been tragically reduced with the new full-body swimsuits.
I did notice in the US trials that some events were more likely than others to have swimmers that wear the traditional suits; can you refresh my memory about what those events are? Thanks!
Amy Shipley: It's been my observation that freestylers wear the full-body suits more than anybody. A lot of breaststrokers don't like them because they say they inhibit movement. It's kind of mixed with the fly and backstroke... Really, though, it's largely individual. I remember Alex Popov standing in his little Speedo on the blocks at Sydney when everyone else was in their full suits, which were all the rage back then. Popov won a world title last year in a little Speedo, as I recall...
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Washington, D.C.:
the question I have not seen asked or answered by the media is whether Phelps was fully rested for trials. If he was fully tapered, his chances at seven-eight golds -- which I think are pretty slim anyway -- are even slimmer (particularly in the 200 free). If he was still suffering the effects of heavy training, that's another story. Do you know the answer to this?
By the way, congratulations to the Post for forecasting a medalist in the women's 100 breast (Stitts) who didn't even make the U.S. team.
Amy Shipley: His coach said he was beginning his Olympic taper, but he hadn't peaked. He wasn't, however, overtrained by any means... And thanks for noticing that mistake in our medal predictions. I'm responsible. I guess I was jetlagged ... :-)
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Arlington, Va.:
Phelps does not need to have the No. 1 spot to win a gold in the Medley relay. He just has to swim a qualifying heat.
Amy Shipley: Good point. I'm not sure he, or anyone else, would consider that a true gold medal in terms of what he is trying to achieve. But yes, a gold is a gold is a gold...
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Washington, D.C.:
Americans have always been strong in
the sprint freestyle and stroke events.
What do you feel needs to be done (at
both the age-group and elite level) to
ensure future American success in the
midle-distance and distance freestyle
events, which are currently dominated by
the Australians?
Amy Shipley: It's the same dilemma facing U.S. distance running. Kids don't tend to stick to those disciplines because A) they aren't highly visible and popular and B) they are a LOT OF WORK. I think it's hard to motivate kids to swim zillions of laps or run zillions of miles when the rewards appear to be small. I don't think there is an easy solution. We need a Michael Phelps of long distances to attract some attention, but how you find him is a tough one...
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Arlington, Va.:
From what you can tell, is Michael Phelps encouraging, tempering, or neutral to all the 8 gold medal stories? I have this premonition of him enjoying breathtaking success but being labeled a flop because one of his medals doesn't happen to be gold.
BTW, I know he opted out of the 200 back, but has any swimmer ever qualified in four different disciplines before (fly, free, back and IM)?
Amy Shipley: Phelps has been incredibly laid back about all the attention. He has stuck rigidly to his "I-only-want-one-gold-medal-here" mantra. He is very, very careful not to egg on the speculation about his winning eight, which seems pretty smart. Maybe he watched Marion Jones suffer from her predictions about winning five gold medals in Sydney. She won ONLY three gold and that felt like a huge disappointment, which of course is ridiculous.
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Los Angeles, Calif.:
Do you think China will dominate
swimming within 15 years?
Amy Shipley: I think China could dominate a lot with four years. They are working like crazy to make a smash at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and they have a bunch of awesome prospects in a number of sports. The problem China could face if it succeeds will be speculation about performance-enhancing drugs, given the country's miserable history in that area.
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Washington, D.C.:
I have to admit I only watch swimming during the Olympics and dont even follow the lead up, so please forgive my ignorance. Has the doping scandals I keep hearing about hit the swimming community?
Amy Shipley: I have been somewhat amazed that not a single doping scandal has hit swimming this summer. I'm sure there have been some positives, but nothing big enough to hit my radar screen, which is really in tune to that stuff. I am not sure what the lack of positives mean. USA Swimming likes to say the sport is largely clean, but who knows for sure? BALCO has proven that tests can be beaten...
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Washington, D.C.:
Do you think any of the hype surrounding
this year's Olympics will translate into
increased appreciation and coverage of
youth swimming (High School and USS)
in the metropolitan area? Youth
swimming is immensley important in this
area, yet I think it does not receive the
media coverage it deserves. Thanks for
taking my question!
Amy Shipley: It's hard to say. I think Michael Phelps's prominence has really pushed swimming to the forefront of the Games, but historically all Oly sports, even the most popular, tend to fade in the background once the Olympics are over. The fact that the world championships are in Indy this year in September will help stretch out the interest. And it always helps when locals--there have certainly been some good ones--succeed on the international stage...
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Alexandria, Va.:
Will any of the swimming gold medal finals be shown live here in the eastern U.S.?
Amy Shipley: It's my understanding that NBC intends to hold everything for prime time--even if that means Michael Phelps wins his eighth gold medal on tape delay... I am sure swimming fans would appreciate THAT....
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Bridgehampton, N.Y.:
Men's collegiate swimming has been especially hard hit by
Title IX in recent years -- every team has a strict roster
cap and many teams have been cut altogether. The top
medal winning school, UCLA, eliminated their men's team
just a few years ago.
The swim coaches have been very involved in Title IX
reform. What are the athletes saying about the impact
that cuts and caps are having on the sport and what can
be done about it?
Amy Shipley: Your question is complicated. It bugs me to see so many men's sports cut in the name of Title IX, but it bothers me even more that the cuts are described in those terms. Title IX hasn't cut any sports at all. College administrators who are unwilling to shrink massive football programs even by a few players are usually willing to surrender the non-revenue generators such as men's wrestling and swimming to achieve Title IX compliance. Anyway, athletes are very frustrated, and rightfully so. It's really difficult to put together gold-medal winning teams when you don't have collegiate programs through which to build them...
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Virginia:
Who are the people to watch from other countries?
Amy Shipley: Lots of Aussies: Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Leisel Jones, Matt Welsh...
Inge de Bruijn is back...
Popov, van den Hoogenband...
Japanese breaststroker Kitajima will give Brendan Hansen a run for his money...
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Washington, D.C.:
What impact do you think the impending
departure for Australia of Rick Curl (Head
coach of Curl-Burke Swim Club, the
area's preeminent USS team) will have
on the local swimming scene?
Amy Shipley: That's not a question I feel knowledgeable enough to answer. I know Rick has a great reputation and has led scores of excellent Curl-Burke teams to titles, but I would imagine there is other excellent coaching talent, not to mention swimming talent, in the DC area that should help fill the void...
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Long Beach, Calif.:
Greetings from Long Beach,
Do you think it would be a good idea for Long Beach to become the capital of
American swimming? The trials went off so well here, and we have an Olympic pool
already. What is your take on having a mecca for swimming?
Amy Shipley: Long Beach is a great destination for swimming, but so is Indianapolis. It would be hard to leave Indy out of any swimming equation.
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