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Natalie Coughlin, Olympic Preview
Natalie: "100 back, fly and free are my focus. I'm still testing the 200 IM...not sure if I'll swim it in Omaha." (Photo Courtesy © Tim Binning, theswimpictures.com)
Fantastic interview with Natalie! Thanks GMM
thnx Lisa…. Natalie makes it easy to do….
Thanks Mel, for yet another great job!
WE ALL LOVE NATALIE!!!!!
Love Natalie! She’s a real pro. I hope (and believe) she’ll swim beyond 2012, though I’m curious as to how her career will evolve beyond swimmming. I think she’ll always be an ambassador of the sport and of the Olympics as a whole….but what will she do next?
Mel, great interview – I hope the 100 free is still in play for Natalie.
Besides her 11-11 medals, has Team USA ever had one female swim on all 3 relays during 3 Olympics?
I think Natalie gave up the chance to be on this year’s 4×200 but the relay contributions that she has given our country are almost as impressive as her individual medals.
The Medley will be very strong and I hope the 4×100 free can give the Dutch a run.
Cal Fan…. No, no female has swum on 3 relays during 3 Olympic Games… 99.99999% sure about that. (Braden? You’ll know the answer. Is that correct?)
I absolutely think Natalie could still do the 2-free. She only has to be 6th to land the spot. (Doing that race 3 time is the killer. 200 free hurts!)
Yeah, the medley’s never been this strong, and I’m holding out hope for the 4×100 free as well. That’s the challenge.
Vollmer and Missy are going to be on all three relays….it would be great if Natalie could join them…especially since she has so much experience and I think our women’s 4×200 with Schmitt could be golden.
But Natalie and Teri know what’s best for her and I won’t second guess them.
If she is in shape for that event, focuses on it for one race and most importantly, is fast enough to qualify, it would be great to see her contribute.
…fingers crossed. We’ll see!
I don’t think the American women need her on the 800 free relay. Nobody’s going to be close to them with Missy and Schmitt, plus anybody else.
RE: Mel’s question – only two American women to ever swim three relays at the Olympics are Coughlin in ’04 and Jenny Thompson in ’96 and 2000. By ’04, Thompson was off of the 800 free relay.
Coughlin also swam 3 relays in Beijing
Agreed, Hoff or a couple others could easily make the team and they should be golden.
I just thought (if she was focused on a 4×200 relay spot) Natalie might want to add one more medal to her resume….but as we have all learned, she is a special athlete that has a plan which works for her and Terri.
Whichever 6 make the relay, have a golden opportunity and our 2004 Olympic result, will hopefully occur for Team USA again.
Exactly ! They should be recognized for the success of their methods and the great success of their swimmers . Anthony on his way back is doing good , though i predict he needs one more year to be on full mastery of his skills ( improving his start mainly ) , Adrian could explode on 50 and 100 free in Omaha and London ( i truly wish him that )….and for all the other from Cal as well .
I think Teri MecKeever has great balanced approach to swimming for her swimmers.
ASWIMFAN, I think all of her swimmers will perform well in Omaha & London. Not an easy thing to do. A lot of swimmers will implode from the pressure. I think it’s Teri balanced approach, as you mentioned, that’s the difference. I’d love to spend some time on deck with her, shadow her in her element.
Great intervieuw Mel ! She will be owesome this summer , i feel that !
Thanks, Jean…. I’m curious about all of the Cal Berkeley athletes swimming under Teri McKeever (and Coach Durden). McKeever has had so much success, the 2012 Olympics could be where she is recognized by the global media for her hard work.