For many athletes watching their sport on television is no big deal. Okay so you watched football or baseball on television last night? Big deal. Tell me the last time you saw swimming on TV! It happens about once every four years during the Olympics which is why the 2012 Olympics are highly anticipated by swimmers. Its exciting and a lot of fun to be able to watch the best of the best compete at your sport. I highly recommend tuning into the London Games come July there is so much to watch! So here I am going to highlight a few main competitors who will most definitely be making a splash in the pool....
--Michael Phelps: I might as well get started with the name everyone knows. Last Olympics Phelps won a record of eight gold medals which caught the world's attention. This year might not be so exciting, Phelps is not going to be quite ambitious for his last Olympics, as he is just focusing on a few main events. Most definitely the butterfly, sprint IM, and mid distance freestyle.
--Ryan Lochte: My predictions are that Lochte is going to be one of the top few starts of the 2012 Games. He has shown multiple times throughout the offseason that he is swimming faster than ever and is ready to take on his good friend and teammate Michael Phelps. Lochte will be specializing in the IM, backstroke, and freestyle.
--Nathan Adrian: Right at the prime of his career Adrian will no doubt dominate the sprint freestyle events while representing the USA. Adrian who wasn't a major part of the Beijing team will contribute a great deal to the 2012 squad. Make sure to check out the 50 and 100 meter freestyle races for a chance to watch Adrian do some damage!
--Dara Torres: For anyone who followed the 2008 Olympics you probably have heard of this wonder woman. Torres will be in her mid-forties come the summer of 2012. She is aiming to make the Olympic team in the sprint 50 meter freestyle. She will be competing against girls half her age! Definitely someone to cheer for.
--Janet Evans: Evans is also another comeback queen. Evans made her mark in the swimming world in the 90s primarily and is shooting for a shot on this year's Olympic time. Evans, like Torres is now a mother on top of training for the Olympics. Watch for Evans in the distance freestyle events such as the 400, 800, or 1500 meter freestyles.
--Rebecca Soni: I would consider Soni to be one of my favorite of the American swimmers. Soni is a one stroke wonder-queen of the breaststroke! She will be looking to sweep both of the breaststroke events (100 and 200) along with being part of the American women's medley relay while swimming the breaststroke leg.
--Natalie Coughlin: Coughlin is a very experienced swimmer at the highest level, as this will be her third Olympics. Known for her backstroke, she is definitely one to keep an eye on. Coughlin will most likely be part of the medley relay and 100 backstroke. There is a possibility of her competing in the sprint IM or sprint freestyle relays as well!
Well that wraps it up folks! This covers just a few of the many American swimming stars who will be competing in London this summer!
No comments:
Post a Comment