How can his body maintain that level of training and competition? I know he is relatively young, but his training is super-human!
"The will to win means nothing without the will to train" - Kip Keino
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shoot Bill. I think your quote, attributed to Kip Keino, may answer your own question.
I think this summer's nationals, as well as the Olympic Trials, should use the Olympic format to get everyone used to the idea.
Most masters swimmers would like this. Since our meets start early in the morning and are timed finals, we have to be ready to go in the morning!
That said, it would still feel weird to swim a prelim race at night, then get 12 hours rest or more before the semifinal.
Shoot Bill. I think your quote, attributed to Kip Keino, may answer your own question.
Indeed. What we have here is an incredibly talented athlete who takes his own training VERY seriously. In addition, he practices with one of the best teams/programs in the US...some would argue THE best. In a recent SI magazine, post Melbourne, it states that Phelps found himself very late for a practice one morning. Bowman was intent on chewing him up oneside and down the other until he realized that Phelps was more angry with himself than Bowman was with Phelps. He is a man on a mission who happens to have the capacity to complete his objectives (I think so anyhow). In the same issue, Libby Lenton made the remark that there should be three teams for the "Duel", USA, AU, and Phelps. Not a big SI fan (read this while getting my hair cut) but I though this article was pretty good.
Regarding Crocker and Lochte, Crocker knows better than anybody else in the world that Phelps can never be ruled out. Lochte is good, but he's got aways to go to actually surpass Phelps especially if Phelps continues to improve between now and summer 2008.
If anyone can spoil Phelps quest, I'd say it was Lochte. Crocker is amazing and will take him out in the 100 fly, but Crocker isn't there in the other races, but Lochte is. I've always been surprised how well Lochte keeps up. Everyone focues on the fact that Phelps is ahead of the WR by however much, but Ryan is almost always ahead of it too and only about half a body length behind Phelps....and their BOTH ahead of the rest of the field by several body lengths,not just Phelps. If they both keep improving Phelps will win, but if Phelps hits a wall (hopefully he won't) and Lochte doesn't then Lochte will have him. Either way, as they both improve, it'll turn into some amazing races!
A fairly safe assumption,barring illness or injury. The one chance trials does make qualifying have just a touch of luck. As I have said before,in a rational world there would be an Olympic qualifying time,if you made it you are in,regardless of nationality.The Olympic finals should be the 8 best swimmers,period.:dedhorse:
