Summer Olympics 2012
BY GEORGE DICKIE
Watch out for falling records Swimming is divided into four strokes – freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, plus medley (a combination of the four) – in distances ranging from 50 meters to 10 kilometers, and there are individual and relay events. Thirty-four gold medals are awarded to men’s and women’s swimmers. Unless you’ve been living on
Page 7 Jupiter, you know the big story of these games is American Michael Phelps and his pursuit of the all-time record for total medals won by an Olympic athlete of 18, held by 1950s-60s Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. Currently, he’s at 16, so the idea that the owner of 14 gold medals, including a single-games record eight in Beijing, can’t manage at least three bronzes in about a half-dozen events is patently absurd. Of course, the 27-yearold Baltimore native has indicated this will be his last Olympics, so if he‘s going to do it, now is the time. At this writing, it was not known in which events he would participate, although he has indicated the 400m individual medley would not be among them, due to its grueling nature. One of Phelps’ chief challengers would be his USA teammate Ryan Lochte. The 27-year-old
Floridian has three gold medals to his name, plus world records in the 200and 400-meter individual relays and the 2x400-meter freestyle relay. He figures to be a threat once again in these events, plus the 200m individual medley and the 200m backstroke, in which he won gold in Beijing. Other men’s swimmers to watch for in London include China’s Sun Yang, who will look to break his world-record time in the 1,500m freestyle; Serbia’s Milorad Cavic, who gave Phelps a run for his money in the 100m butterfly in Beijing and at the 2009 World Championships; China’s Wu Peng, a rising star in the 200m butterfly; and Germany’s Thomas Lurz, who figures to garner hardware in the 10K open water event. On the women’s side, a number of world record holders from the 2008 Olympics will return to defend their gold medals, including Federica Pellegrini
of Italy in the 200m freestyle, Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington in the 800m freestyle, Liu Zige of China in the 200m butterfly, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe in the 200m backstroke, American Rebecca Soni in the 200m breaststroke, and Australia’s Stephanie Rice in the 200m and 400m individual medleys. Also, Soni should also put on a show in her rematch against Aussie defending gold medalist Leisel Jones in the 100m breaststroke. One record that won’t fall in London will be one that was thought to be destined for American Natalie Coughlin. She failed to qualify for two events – the 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke – that, had she medaled, would have made her the most decorated female American swimmer in Olympic history. Currently, that distinction belongs to retired teammate Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres, who have 12 to Coughlin’s 11. Coughlin has qualified for the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Natalie Coughlin
Shoulder & Elbow >Arthritis Surgery >Shoulder & Elbow Replacement >Rotator Cuff Injuries >Arthroscopy >Tendonitis, Instabilities, Dislocations & Fractures
CP-0010480468