Natalie Coughlin, Olympic Preview

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Lisa
12 years ago

Fantastic interview with Natalie! Thanks GMM

Nadador
12 years ago

Thanks Mel, for yet another great job!

WE ALL LOVE NATALIE!!!!!

Cal Fan
12 years ago

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
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
12 years ago

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.

Admin
Reply to  Cal Fan
12 years ago

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.

aswimfan
Reply to  Braden Keith
12 years ago

Coughlin also swam 3 relays in Beijing

Cal Fan
Reply to  Braden Keith
12 years ago

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.

jean michel
12 years ago

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 .

aswimfan
Reply to  jean michel
12 years ago

I think Teri MecKeever has great balanced approach to swimming for her swimmers.

jean michel
12 years ago

Great intervieuw Mel ! She will be owesome this summer , i feel that !

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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