Given that we've had 2 consecutive ridiculous gold medal hauls by Mr. Phelps and 1 in the past by Mr. Spitz, when will we see a similar feat by a female swimmer? Why haven't we in the past? Is there somehow more parity in women's swimming?
I would submit that we might have seen 6 or more golds in one Olympics from Tracy Caulkins in 1980 if not for the boycott. And, we might have seen it from Shirley Babashoff in 1976 if not for the East German women.
The only current contender I could see is Libby Trickett. She won 5 golds at the 2007 Worlds. She had a great Olympics by most standards, but didn't approach her Worlds gold medal haul. There are other multi-talented women out there (Coughlin, Hoff, Coventry, Rice), but none have attacked that kind of schedule successfully so far.
Helen Madison in 1931 accomplished this feat also. She also won every available freestyle event at the 1932 Olympics (100 Free, 400 Free, 400 Free Relay).
Helene Madison, actually. She was from Seattle and the closest pool to my house is named for her!
Katie Hoff is still maturing and should be even better in 2012. Coventry and Rice both looked great but I don't know much longer they can hold on to the form.
Rice is only 20. Almost exactly one year older than Hoff.
Helen Madison in 1931 accomplished this feat also. She also won every available freestyle event at the 1932 Olympics (100 Free, 400 Free, 400 Free Relay).
Helene Madison, actually. She was from Seattle and the closest pool to my house is named for her!
Katie Hoff is still maturing and should be even better in 2012. Coventry and Rice both looked great but I don't know much longer they can hold on to the form.
Rice is only 20. Almost exactly one year older than Hoff.
