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.
Parents
Former Member
I don't think winning all these medals is a disappointment - the problem is SHE APPEARS to think so. Just the look on her face after every finish tells it all.
The program has obviously taken a toll -- maybe she did not realize how tough some of the prelim and semis would be. The 200 IM final was not a good race for her and I have no idea what happened in the 800. She came home in a 1:06 the last 100 - maybe she cramped ???
I don't think winning all these medals is a disappointment - the problem is SHE APPEARS to think so. Just the look on her face after every finish tells it all.
The program has obviously taken a toll -- maybe she did not realize how tough some of the prelim and semis would be. The 200 IM final was not a good race for her and I have no idea what happened in the 800. She came home in a 1:06 the last 100 - maybe she cramped ???
