OMAHA — America’s “other” swimming superstar is building a laundry list of events for Beijing nearly as long as Michael Phelps’, but if you haven’t heard of her, don’t feel bad.
While Phelps was swimming right into America’s mainstream sporting populace at the Athens Olympics four years ago, Katie Hoff was hard to find. And if you did find her, you’d look away.
Coming into Athens with the fastest time in the world in the 400 individual medley, she didn’t even get out of the prelims, finishing a large lake behind in 17th. She then struggled out of the pool, walked a few steps and threw up on the pool deck.
Few snapshots in Olympic Games history have better captured the “Agony of Defeat.”
Four years later, Hoff is enjoying the “Thrill of Victory.” And victory. And victory. And victory. The American records she set in the 200 freestyle and the 200 individual medley at the Olympic Trials here Wednesday give her four wins and set her up as America’s most powerful female force in Beijing.
“She’s swimming like Katie swims,” Phelps said.
He should know. They were members of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club before he moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., after Athens. While Phelps and Hoff seem to be tied at the goggles — Baltimore roots, Beijing destinies — their international splashes were much different.
Phelps debuted in Sydney when he was 14, but he barely made the team and his biggest pressure was whether he’d get to see a kangaroo. Hoff was 15 in Athens, the youngest member of the entire Olympic team, in her first international race and the No. 1 seed in an event she had swam only 20 times. She walked out for her race and the eyes of the world felt a lot more intense than the Greek sun.
“I was dreading it, basically,” Hoff said. “Sitting in the ready room, I don’t think I took any deep breaths. I was just sitting there scared to death.”
How much does a young girl mature from 15 to 16? She learned to drive a car at the same time she learned to drive her career. In 2005 she had a breakout season, becoming the best medley racer in the world.
The next year, Teen People magazine ranked her as one of the “20 Teens Who Will Change the World.” She earned Speedo’s longest endorsement contract — 10 years — along with deals with Omega, United Airlines and Rosetta Stone. Look for her on Visa’s Olympic commercials.
She’s 19 and is the new face of American women’s swimming. And that face is beaming.
“It’s just come with maturity and experience,” Hoff said. “Four years ago, I feel like I was a completely different person. I hadn’t really experienced any big competitions at all. Having gone through two world championships, the Pan Pacifics, I’ve learned to cope with the nerves. I still get just as nervous, but I’ve learned to deal with them.”
Said her coach, Paul Yetter: “Having quite a few races to do well in helps, because then you can spread the nerves a little bit if there are some and you can understand that nerves are just part of the game.”
She has had a remarkable meet. She set the world 400 IM mark Sunday, won the 400 freestyle Monday, then Wednesday won the 200 free wire to wire in 1:55.88 to break her own U.S. record. Barely 45 minutes later, she broke Natalie Coughlin’s U.S. mark in the 200 IM by catching her at the wall to win in 2:09.71.
Hoff is not finished. She races the 100 freestyle today and 800 free Friday. If she qualifies in those two — she’s seeded third and second, respectively — and races three relays, she could be in nine events in Beijing.
Her total yardage will top Phelps, too. And the rest of the world be warned: “It’s possible,” Yetter said, “the next quadrennial could be better than this quad.”
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
Only times will tell if Hoff makes Olympic history in Beijing
Swimmer Katie Hoff is trying to qualify for six individual events at the Beijing Olympics. If successful, she could ultimately claim nine medals in China, counting relay events. Her best times this season in the six events she’s swimming at the Trials and how she ranks:
400 individual medley 4:31.12 Best in world (world record)
200 freestyle 1:55.88 Best in world
400 freestyle 4:02.2 Second best in world
200 individual medley 2:09.71 Second best in world
800 freestyle 8:19.70 Second best in world
100 freestyle 54.28 13th best
John Henderson, The Denver Post
