Olympic Trials 2008

Remember Mark Spitz, the 1972 Olympics, and those seven gold medals? Quite a feat! (Yes, I still have the famous poster;) Last night, swimmer Michael Phelps swam the 400 Individual Medley during the Olympic Trials in Omaha and broke the World Record! Perhaps 2008 will see Phelps take 8 gold medals and one-up Mr. Spitz.

Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is also competing at the Trials. She is a 41-year-old mom, has nine medals from past games, and is attempting to compete in her fifth Olympics.

Competitive swimming does not get the television coverage of, say, football or basketball. The sport does not exist as a professional one, so the Summer Olympic Games become a very big deal. If you're a swimmer, young or old, take advantage of the televised coverage of Olympic swimming, including the trials. Watch it! Learn by osmosis. Listen to the commentators. Study the techniques of the best swimmers in the world...

....and check out Michael Phelps' goggles. They're awesome;)