When Katie Hoff made the Olympics in 2004, she was young, inexperienced, and got overwhelmed. Since then she's dominated swimming in America, done well globally, and in 2008 she has been overwhelmed - again. To me, she just looks the part of the nervous girl, constantly re-adjusting her goggles and plastering them to her face before races, taking deep breaths, etc. You don't see this out of Coughlin, Phelps, Piersol, and the list goes on and on. How is she going to perform at the highest level if she's a nervous wreck before races?
She was the prohibitive favorite in the IM's, and one of few favorites in the 2, 4, and 8 Freestyles. She got 4th, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, and an FTQ, respectively. We should all be so fortunate to be that good, but from a US Swimming standpoint, I think this has to go down as a disappointing performace. The only thing saving her (media-wise) is Phelps. Otherwise she'd have been the spotlight athlete. She was even mentioned as having a chance for 5 golds. She's failed to meet expectations. And it's a common occurrence in US women's swimming since the '88 games. Jenny Thompson comes to mind.
I think we're also missing the fact the morning finals are affecting some performances more negatively than others.
This may be the result of normal training times for some being in the afternoon or evening as opposed to the morning.
I don't buy this at all. Many are swimming superbly in the morning finals. Just not US women. Nothing ever impacts everyone the same. Our team spent days in Singapore to get into the right time zone. We're 6 days into it now and some people are just swimming badly.
Well, as I see it we pretty much agree.
"Many are swimming superbly in the morning finals." Yep.
"Just not US women." Some are, some aren't.
"Nothing ever impacts everyone the same." Absolutely.
Some of it may be morning related, some of it may not be. :doh:
Quite frankly, the reason why people like Michael Phelps are so exceptional is their ability to perform multiple events under big pressure and come out on top. Katie Hoff has been billed "the female Michael Phelps" and she is not (and that is not an insult, because no one out thier is MP).
Look how many top Olympians have had bad Olympic games (Spitz in 68 sticks out like a sore thumb). She is still young, and all indications are she should be in the mix through the 2012 games if she stays on track.
maybe they missed their taper. although they are swimming fast, they look tired or flat. some of the first timers, it's just a case of nerves, hersey said today in the atlanta journal. it was nerves
Former Member
As far as the media's expectations (which I believe can sometimes help shape the competitor's as well), I don't think they have truly absorbed how much a true World Sport at the elite level swimming has become. It is so easy to be beaten while doing a personal best (which is lesson that a lot of masters learn) and lose track of true personal achievement.
Right now, the public in Canada are grumbling about our dearth of medals, when we spend very little on summer sports; even dissing Mike Brown for missing a medal while setting two CDN records (nearly a 2 second drop) in the 200 brst.
Canada used to do pretty well in the 1970's when having a strong club system virtually guaranteed some swimmers capable of medalling on a thin world scene. US had a strong club scene and NCAA which at that time was unique. Now many countries have elite programs, sports institutes, exploit NCAA system etc. It is now a bearpit on the international swimming scene and I think Katie Hoff should hold her head high no matter what else happens.
Former Member
I think we're also missing the fact the morning finals are affecting some performances more negatively than others.
This may be the result of normal training times for some being in the afternoon or evening as opposed to the morning.
I don't buy this at all. Many are swimming superbly in the morning finals. Just not US women. Nothing ever impacts everyone the same. Our team spent days in Singapore to get into the right time zone. We're 6 days into it now and some people are just swimming badly.
Former Member
No disappointment at all. These kids do their best and that is all we can ask for.
Former Member
Were the female swimmers not managed correctly when they left the states? I'm wondering if they were some issues with their diet, training, coaching, etc. after trials. I suspect more information will become available when they return.
Former Member
You know, Katie reminds me very much of Leisel Jones. Very talented at a young age and a lot of pressure placed on young shoulders to perform.
In Sydney 2000 - the media and us, the public, expected 15 year old Leisle to blitz the field and take gold medals. nope.. a silver medal happened.
Athens 2004 - Leisel is older, wiser, faster, more experienced..the expectation was also greater.. 1 bronze medal.
Leisel has said it was after Athens that she just wanted to give it all up. She was criticised something awful by the media.
Finally here is Beijing where she has established her dominance in breaststroking she has managed that elusive gold, and she has been quoted to say that looking back she wouldnt change a thing because the journey to get where she is today, has been what has made her at 22 years old today.
Katie will take away another disappointing games, but I predict that in the next 4 years she will being to to a leisel and virtually stamp her signature on certain events and look out 2012.
Katie will then be a force to reckon with. and good for her.
