Ryan Lochte of the US is predicted to be his country's next great swimming star. Photo / AP
Duel in the Pool? More like Slaughter in the Water.
The United States hasn't come close to losing one of these every-other-year dual meets since they were launched in 2003 as a way to build interest in swimming during non-Olympic years.
Even with Michael Phelps back home in Baltimore, focusing on training for next summer's London Games, Brendan Hansen doesn't expect anything to change when the powerful Americans take on a European all-star team at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Centre.
"It's hard for me to believe we can lose the way this team feeds off each other," said Hansen. "When we start rolling at a meet like this, it's a slippery slope. The meet is over a lot sooner than you think, then we're just racing each other."
USA Swimming has assembled a daunting group that features Ryan Lochte, the star of this year's world championships, with Olympic gold medallists Hansen, Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer and Amanda Beard. The next wave of American stars is led by 16-year-old Missy Franklin, who captured three golds and five medals at worlds.
"You need those people who've been to the Olympics, who've been on the podium," Coughlin said. "But you also need those youngsters, who are so excited just to be there."
The Europeans faced a challenge assembling a competitive team, given all the politics and differing objectives of the various national federations. Germany and Russia contributed only one swimmer apiece, and the powerhouse French squad isn't participating at all.
Still, there's quite a mix with 41 swimmers from 18 nations, including world champions Daniel Gyurta of Hungary and Lotte Friis and Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark.
"Try having a team meeting," quipped Markus Rogan, a two-time Olympian from Austria. "It's very interesting, communications-wise."
The Americans easily beat Australia at the first three duels, then routed a European team 185-78 two years ago.
"Even though we don't even know everybody's name, we all have a common goal," Rogan said. "Everybody wants to beat the Americans."
British star Gemma Spofforth predicts the score will be a lot tighter than past years, since so many of her teammates are coming off the European short-course championships. The same format will be used at Georgia Tech, where a giant grandstand has been erected over the half of the full-length pool that won't be used. "It looks like a lot of the Europeans are in top shape and ready to go fast," she said. "I think it's going to be very, very close. Someone who finishes third or fourth could make the difference."
Most of the Americans are in the midst of rigorous training regimens, so they won't be in their best racing form. Lochte swam a staggering 6000 metres during his practice session yesterday, a routine that is geared toward having him in top form for London, not Atlanta.
Phelps passed on the chance to race in Atlanta. His coach, Bob Bowman, said the 14-time Olympic gold medalist was best served finishing out the year training at home and taking part in one local meet.
At worlds, Lochte surpassed Phelps as the world's most dominant swimmer, beating his fellow American in their two head-to-head races. But, much like any golf tournament that doesn't include Tiger Woods, the absence of Phelps takes some of the lustre off this meet.
"I would like for him to be here, to be with the team," Hansen said. Lochte, too, wishes Phelps had decided to compete in Atlanta. Even though they would've been racing for the same team, it would've been another chance to set the table for their expected Olympic showdown in London, likely to be one of the biggest storylines of the 2012 Games.
But Lochte can't concern himself with Phelps' schedule. There's plenty of work to do before the Olympics. "Obviously, I hope everyone will start talking about me," he said. "But it's too early to tell. We've still got six or seven months until the games."
Spofforth, who trains with Lochte, predicts he'll be the biggest swimming star in London not just because of his steely focus in the water, but the carefree way he carries himself on dry land.
- AP
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