Which Olympians are done? Which will give it a go for at least another year or two if not four? Anyone know for sure?
Still going:
Phelps
Hoff - I assume
Coughlin
Questionable
Peirsol
Crocker
Hansen
Torres
Lezak
My guess is that Hansen comes back for a year or two, either sets new WRs or doesn't, and is done well before the next Olympics. He's an amazing swimmer but something seems to happen to his mental toughness at these big meets. Maybe Kitajima gets in his head. Who knows? He sure didn't swim up to his potential and I think he can still swim faster.
Prediction:
Gary Hall Jr. - changes his nickname to the God(grand)Father of swimming. Shows up out of the blue at the 2012 trials with an entourage of 12 people carrying the train of his parka.
Mark Spitz - decides that the advent of the LZR suit and goggles give him enough motivation to stage a comeback. Declares: "My new dedication to competition is so great that I remind me of a younger me"
Does anyone remember those network specials where Spitz was going to make a comeback? He did one where he competed against Matt Biondi and another against Tom Yaeger and they kicked his butt. After those specials, he decided to go back into retirement. I think that this was in the early 90s. Torres got back to the top the smart way, he won USMS titles and then did USS meets, then made the Olympic team and then won three more medals.
I think that Hansen and Crocker are done if they don't get their heads straight.
Peirsol might retire. He had a great career.
I hope that Stovall stays in the pool.
He said something to that effect when they interviewed him after the 100 *** finals.
Well, I am afraid he would end his career even further from a gold if he came back in the 2012 games.
Other guesses:
Still going--
Beisel, obviously
Soni, who must be energized by her performances
Hardy, who must be PO'd and looking to prove herself
Magnuson, still improving
Weber-Gale, still improving
Adrian, up and coming star
Grevers, more of a question mark but showed big improvements
C. Jones, seems to still be improving with lots more potential
Probably done--
Wildman-Tobriner, probably going to med school
Beard, way done
Big question marks--
Peirsol and Vanderkaay, both getting older and 4 yrs is far away, but still going PB's
Jensen, who knows?