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
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.
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.
