Veterans and novices to compete together in USA Olympic swimming trials

(BEIJING, June 28) -- The 2008 United States Olympic Swimming Trials will be held from June 29 to July 6 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. According to reports, those who win the first two places in competitive events in Nebraska will automatically obtain Olympic tickets. In addition, the top six in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events will be qualified to attend relay race events.

The US National Swimming Team showed its strength in the 2004 Olympic Games, when they grabbed 10 medals, including 3 golds. With the return of veterans and the emergence of novices, the American women's team will surprise the world with its new faces. They are considered neck and neck with the Australian women's team, the latter currently No.1 in the world.

41-year-old veteran swimmer Dara Torres, a mother of 2, has hopes of a 5th Olympic appearance. Last year, she won the gold medal in the US Nationals for the 50m Freestyle by breaking the American record she herself had previously set. She will take part in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and is expected to get at least one Olympic qualification for the relay race events. If this is the case,, she will be the first American to attend the Olympic Games five times.

Kate Ziegler and Katie Hoff, equally-matched, will take part in the 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle competitions during the trials. Ziegler is generally considered the queen of distance swimming, while Hoff has shown her edge over others in medley events and is a potential medallist of 7 Olympic events. In addition, Hoff was ranked No.1 on the American team for the 200m Individual Medley until Natalie Coughlin broke the American record this June, although the latter doesn't yet intend to take part in the event at the trials. If Coughlin unexpectedly attends, competition between the two could possibly set a new world record in this event.

Jessica Hardy, former world record holder of the 100m breaststroke, is the No.1 seeded player in the Olympic swimming trial, followed by Tara Kirk, who participated in the 2004 Olympic Games, Rebecca Soni, Megan Jendrick, Keri Hehn and Lindsay Payne. However, Americans that successfully pass through the trials will encounter formidable Australian swimmer Leisel Jones, the world record holder of the 100m and 200m Breaststroke, at the upcoming Games.