Katie Hoff, swimming

Sports Digest: Chinese gymnasts' ages in Sydney looked into

China's gold-medal gymnasts aren't the only ones whose ages are getting a closer look. International gymnastics officials' investigation into the eligibility of the Chinese women's team in Beijing has been expanded to include members of the 2000 squad, which won the bronze medal in Sydney, the Associated Press reported. Officials are examining whether Yang Yun and Dong Fangxiao, in particular, were old enough to compete.

Sports Digest: Heels' Barnes remains in critical condition

Allison Barnes (C. Milton Wright), a sophomore freestyle swimmer for North Carolina, remains in critical condition after being hospitalized last week, according to a statement from her parents, Keith and JoEllen. Barnes, 19, swam for the same North Baltimore Aquatic Club program that produced Olympians Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff. She was also a cross country star at C.Milton Wright and graduated in 2007. Tar Heels teammates and coaches noticed that Barnes was struggling during practice Tuesday and immediately called 911. She was taken by ambulance to a university hospital. Her parents also said, "Our family continues to covet your prayers for Allison during this journey, and we hope soon to be able to speak to you with encouraging news."

Bel Air's Barnes in hospital

Bel Air native and University of North Carolina swimmer Allison Barnes remained hospitalized yesterday after experiencing "some level of distress" during practice the day before, a university athletic spokesman said.

With work done, time for fun in sun

The Sun's Olympic correspondents, Rick Maese and Kevin Van Valkenburg, are blogging to each other at baltimoresun.com/olympicsblog. An excerpt:

Out of gas, Hoff sinks

Katie Hoff looked exhausted when she pulled herself out of the pool yesterday inside the Water Cube. She was the last competitor in her 800-meter freestyle heat to climb onto the pool deck, and her expression was one of weary disappointment.

Concerns on Hoff's times fair, but 2 medals not bad

The Sun's Olympic correspondents, Rick Maese and Kevin Van Valkenburg, are blogging back and forth to each other at baltimoresun.com/olympicsblog. An excerpt:

Hoff bronzed again

Katie Hoff won her third medal of the 2008 Olympics, swimming the anchor for the United States on the 800-meter freestyle relay and helping the Americans to a third-place finish today behind Australia and China.

Where only swimmers' best will do

The home of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club doesn't look like much.

Rick Maese: A full morning

6:45 a.m.: In separate rooms in separate quarters of the Olympic Village, Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff wake up for the biggest, the busiest and the most demanding day either will face at the Olympics. Swimming in two finals in a single session is an arduous task. Only a handful of swimmers have ever attempted it.

Looking a bit peaked

Maybe all this simply was too much for Katie Hoff.

Today’s highlights

ALL-AROUND COMEBACK: China's Yang Wei should do well in the men's all-around gymnastics finals after a disappointing fall cost him in 2004. 8 p.m., chs. 11, 4

Rick Maese: Hoff shows she has guts

You can easily measure the distance between gold and silver. In heartbreaking fashion, for Katie Hoff today, it amounted to just .07 of a second.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

CONTINUING TO MAKE A SPLASH: Michael Phelps comes back for more in the 200-meter freestyle (scheduled for 10:16p.m.). Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff and Aaron Peirsol are other headliners in the pool. Chs. 11, 4

Medal winners

Yesterday

SWIMMING

Men

400M Individual Medley

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

IT BEGINS FOR PHELPS, HOFF: Swimming is one of two sports NBC insisted on having in prime time for U.S. audiences. The other was gymnastics. Michael Phelps of Rodgers Forge goes for gold medal No.1 tonight in the 400-meter individual medley between 10 and 11p.m. It might be the most challenging of the eight races he plans to swim because of anticipated competition from U.S. teammate Ryan Lochte. Katie Hoff of Towson also swims the 400 IM tonight and faces a challenge from Australia's Stephanie Rice. Hoff is seeking her first Olympic medal. Chs. 11, 4

Baltimore's other champ

For now, Katie Hoff is content to be the other swimmer from Baltimore, the one not named Phelps, the one without the massive public relations machine and Olympic gold.

Hoff 'in control and ready to go'

If karma counts for anything, Katie Hoff deserves to win a gold medal at these Olympics.

Competitive drive fuels Phelps, Hoff

Michael Phelps did not grow up a dreamer of small dreams. His reach, even from a very young age, always managed to exceed his grasp, as poet Robert Browning once wrote.

Phelps, Hoff up to the challenge

It was supposed to be Rivalry Night at the U.S. Olympic swim trials last night.

On Making Swimming History

Olympics will shine Phelps-like spotlight on Hoff

In the universe of hypotheticals, the most popular impossibility buzzing around the pool is this:

U.S. Olympic Trials

Few are multitasking at U.S. Olympic trials

Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff don't swim in every event at the U.S. Olympic trials. It just seems that way.

Hoff races to finish

In the eyes of the world, Katie Hoff has always been a great swimmer. That was obvious, even when she was 14 years old.

U.S. Olympic trials

Hoff is all business

At some point over the past several years - it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when - Katie Hoff figured out a way to channel all her nervous pre-race energy into a frenetic, yet disciplined, routine.

Hoff again on top of the world

In March, when Australia's Stephanie Rice broke Katie Hoff's world record in the 400-meter individual medley, Hoff wanted to jump back in the pool and offer an immediate rebuttal.

Rick Maese: Smutz is getting back in the swim

Whether it's on the medal stand or on the starting blocks, the movement is nearly the same. The long athlete bends over, head deliberately bowed - ready for a medal or ready for the water.

Hoff puts value in staying humble

Katie Hoff doesn't do cocky. And unlike the way some elite athletes try to come off as humble, it's not an act.

Hoff to coach, take classes at Loyola

Olympian Katie Hoff will join the Loyola swimming coaching staff this fall, the school announced yesterday.

Phelps, Hoff have busy trials schedules

In the competitive run-up to the U.S. Olympic swimming team trials, Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff carried a heavy workload.

Swimming

Hoff takes cake with best times

For four days, the menu has been propped up in Katie Hoff's hotel room, opened to the picture of a gooey slice of cheesecake smothered in caramel and chocolate.

Swimming

Phelps, Hoff warm up for trials

The pieces of Katie Hoff's aquatic Chinese puzzle are beginning to come together. One stroke strengthens another. Distances seem to shrink. A skill honed gets her closer to her goal: the starting blocks in Beijing.

Hoff, Phelps aim to relax

With about three weeks to go before the competition to determine the U.S. Olympic swimming team, elite athletes like Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps don't have to turn heads at the final Grand Prix meet this weekend.

Swimming

Phelps returns to attend NBAC fundraiser

Michael Phelps showed up at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center last night and climbed into the pool.

NBAC coach Yetter honored by U.S. Olympic Committee

With his best swimmer poised to go to the Beijing Olympics in four months and a stable of younger athletes in the pipeline for 2012 and beyond, Paul Yetter has an eye for talent and the ability to nurture it.

Swimming

FINA reaffirms its approval of controversial Speedo suit

The great swimsuit competition pitting Speedo against other high-end manufacturers is over.

Swimming: Toyota Grand Prix

Hoff wins 2 more in prep for Olympic trials

In the span of 42 minutes last night, Towson's Katie Hoff won two gold medals and a silver at the Toyota Grand Prix competition.

Hoff is right from start

When Katie Hoff finished the 400-meter individual medley last night, everyone assumed she just had set a U.S. Open record. It was announced over the public address system at the Ohio State Grand Prix, the crowd roared, and a representative from USA Swimming tried to congratulate her.

Missouri Grand Prix

Hoff's gold standard

Six events, five gold medals.

Missouri Grand Prix

Hoff makes her mark

Katie Hoff took two more gold medals yesterday at the Missouri Grand Prix and $20 from Michael Phelps.

'Shocked' Hoff sets U.S. mark in 400 free

When Katie Hoff was less than two pool lengths into the 400-meter freestyle final yesterday, everyone at the Missouri Grand Prix - including the swimmer - sensed something special might be happening.

On swimmer Philip Scholz

Rick Maese: Loyola athlete charting course for Paralympics

There's just something about the water in Baltimore. Maybe you knew that already, but it's worth repeating. The water here, it enables you to do almost anything. Michael Phelps sprang from these waters. Katie Hoff, too. But the swimming story I hope we'll all be able to appreciate this summer is Philip Scholz's quest to represent the United States in the Paralympics.

Hoff again named SportsWoman of Year

For earning 11 medals last year in international and national swimming competition, Towson's Katie Hoff has been named 2007 SportsWoman of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Sports Digest: Sports Digest

• Swimming // Katie Hoff of Towson set two American records at last night's North Baltimore Aquatic Club Christmas Meet at the Naval Academy. She finished the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:10.77, beating the old record by 11 seconds. She had a time of 1:53.77 in the 200 IM.

Swimming

Phelps, Hoff honored as best U.S. swimmers

Michael Phelps won a leading three Golden Goggles awards, including Male Athlete of the Year, on Sunday night when USA Swimming honored the year's top American performers.

Special Olympics

World Games Wetzler's pinnacle

The walls at Meadowbrook Aquatic Center in Mount Washington are adorned with poster-sized portraits of past and future champions who cut their competitive teeth there. But while the record-breaking performances of world-class athletes such as Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff garner most of the swimming facility's attention, another Meadowbrook member recently enjoyed his moment in the spotlight.

Ravens vs. Rams: The picks

Marylanders to watch in '08

Badminton

'Confident' Hoff looks toward Beijing

Katie Hoff has seen the future.

Phelps, Hoff awash in gold

Baltimore's best swimmers traveled to the Midwest and spurred high hopes for what they might accomplish a year from now in the Far East.

No gold, no worry for Hoff, Phelps

For a pair of the nation's top swimmers, the chlorine that was in the air in the Indiana University Natatorium proved to be much thicker than any competitive tensions.

Sports Digest: Sports Digest

U.S. women set record in 4 x 200

The veteran Olympian -- a gold-medal winner and a world-record holder -- was nervous. The American's 4 x 200 freestyle relay team didn't look good in qualifying, was stuck in Lane 8 after barely making the final and now a tired Natalie Coughlin was going to have to put together a strong swim in the opening leg, or the U.S. might be in trouble.

Hoff handles nerves, gets her feet wet

Swimming

World class acts

At 17, Katie Hoff and Kimmie Meissner are already Olympic veterans, each making her mark by bending water to her will.

Swimming

Phelps finishes meet with 100-meter wins

Michael Phelps capped a dominating three days at the Missouri Grand Prix last night with victories in the 100-meter butterfly and the 100 backstroke, and Katie Hoff added two victories.

Swimming

Phelps gets 2 more wins at U.S. Open

Two-time Olympian Michael Phelps of Rodgers Forge won two events yesterday at the U.S. Open Swimming Championships, giving him six gold medals during the three-day meet at Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Ind.

Swimming

Hoff sets record in winning 400 IM

Katie Hoff of Towson broke a 19-year-old meet record on the way to winning the 400-meter individual medley last night at the U.S. Open Swimming Championships at Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Ind.

Sports Digest: Sports Digest

Pan Pacific Championships

Phelps breaks record in 200 IM

Fueled by a big defeat to teammate Aaron Peirsol a night earlier, Michael Phelps responded with a world-record win for his fifth gold medal at the Pan Pacific Championships last night.

Peirsol tops Phelps, sets record

Aaron Peirsol defeated Michael Phelps by 2.37 seconds and set a world record in the 200-meter backstroke at the Pan Pacific Championships last night.

Phelps explores at Pan Pacific

While Ian Thorpe remains off the international stage, Michael Phelps is busy experimenting in the pool.

Different strokes for Hoff, Phelps

As the sun went down Saturday night, bringing the USA Swimming National Championships to a close, two of the world's best swimmers attempted to unwind in two distinctly different ways.

Winning strokes for Hoff, Phelps

IRVINE, Calif. // Standing at the starting blocks last night at the U.S. nationals, roughly 45 minutes apart, Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps couldn't have looked more different had they tried.

Phelps, Hoff make big splash at UltraSwim meet in Charlotte

Six-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps of Rodgers Forge won the 200-meter butterfly yesterday at the Charlotte (N.C.) Ultra- Swim, and Katie Hoff of Towson set her third meet record in winning the 400-meter freestyle.

Faces of the future

If the average person were to walk up to Katie Hoff tomorrow and explain in a calm and rational voice that, at age 16, after the year she has had, Hoff might have earned the right to call herself the best female swimmer in the world, her reaction would likely be something like this: nervous laughter, some significant eye rolling, plenty of blushing, then most importantly, denial, denial, denial.

USOC honors Hoff as '05's best

Not that long ago, people were calling Towson teenager Katie Hoff the future of swimming in the United States. Not anymore. The title of future prodigy no longer fits. After spending the past year collecting records and medals at a furious pace, Hoff has suddenly become a star in the present tense, not the future one.

Swimmer Hoff, 16, signs 10-year deal

The face of Towson teenage swimmer Katie Hoff could be coming to a billboard near you or popping up in commercials on your television soon, and staying there for the next decade.

Sports Digest: Sports Digest

Hoff passes up college eligibility, decides to turn professional at 16

Katie Hoff's small world is about to get a lot bigger.

Phelps wins 4 events in 'Duel'

Michael Phelps won three individual events and anchored the United States to an easy victory in the 400-meter medley relay yesterday at the Duel in the Pool meet in Irvine, Calif., with Australia.

Hoff shows growth at championships

MONTREAL - Early on at the FINA World Championships, Katie Hoff's coach, Paul Yetter fielded a question that made him stop and ponder for a moment. Did he think that Hoff - listed in the media guide at 5 feet 9 - had grown a few inches in the past year?

Hoff's world-class effort wins gold medal in 200 IM

MONTREAL - When the national anthem started to play last night, Katie Hoff took a deep, cleansing breath. And then another. She swallowed hard, then bit her lower lip. Was it really real, she may have wondered? Was there actually a gold medal dangling from her neck?

Showing strokes of potential genius

INDIANAPOLIS -- Abingdon's Katie Hoff has grown physically by at least a half-inch, approaching 5 feet 9, over the months since the 2004 Summer Olympics, and this past week, during the U.S. world championship trials, she has grown in stature within swimming, too.

Phelps, Hoff win; Peirsol sets record

INDIANAPOLIS - Michael Phelps was in the cool-down pool when he heard that Aaron Peirsol had broken the world record for the 100-meter backstroke. And he had barely emerged from the water when his old North Baltimore Aquatic Club teammate, Katie Hoff, touched to win the women's 200 freestyle.

Hoff's U.S. record one-ups Phelps' victory

INDIANAPOLIS - With tufts of brown hair peeking from under his swim cap, Michael Phelps grabbed the lead and set a blistering early pace last night in the men's 400-meter freestyle at the World Championship Trials at the Indiana University Natatorium.

Thompson going out in style after capturing 50 butterfly

INDIANAPOLIS - Jenny Thompson still has the right stuff.

Milton Kent: Back after Olympic debut, Hoff makes splash at school

AH, THE IN-SCHOOL assembly. It's as much a part of the school tradition as the smelly locker, the mushy peas at lunch and learning the "Hora" dance during gym class.

Athens Olympics

Debilitating start decks Hoff in 400 IM

ATHENS - Katie Hoff's Olympic debut was a disaster.

Phelps' 1st real Athens dip dripping with anticipation

While Baltimore sleeps, Michael Phelps will begin his quest to make Olympic history.

Hoff takes down Olympian Beard for win in 200 IM

LONG BEACH, Calif. - For those of you keeping score at home, it's 8-5, with the rest of the U.S. leading the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

Hoff, 15, captures 400 medley, Athens spot

LONG BEACH, Calif. - As the finalists paraded for the women's 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, the sound system blared a version of "American Woman."

Hoff, 15, can end suspense quickly

LONG BEACH, Calif. - A little over six weeks ago, Katie Hoff dived into a chilly and choppy pool up the coast at the Santa Clara International and announced the feasibility of her making the U.S. Olympic team.

Athens Olympics

It's fast lane for 15-year-old

Blue is for first, red is for second ...