Phelps, Hoff off to fast starts

U.S. relay team sets championship record en route to gold medal

By Kevin Van Valkenburg | Sun Reporter

8:40 AM EDT, March 25, 2007

Melbourne, Australia - Michael Phelps toughest opponent today wasn't another swimmer. It also wasn't history. It was boredom.

Phelps, the 21-year-old who grew up in Rodgers Forge, spent most of today completely and utterly bored.

He checked his email. He watched television. He listened to music. He ate lunch. He stared at the ceiling. He did anything and everything to pass the hours. For the first time in as long as he, or anyone else, could remember, he didn't have a morning race.

Rested and motivated, eager to start strong, Phelps finally made it into the pool late tonight (Melbourne is 15 hours ahead of Baltimore time), swimming the opening leg for the United States in the 4 x 100 meter relay. And as usual, he was overpowering, and made a little history along the way.

Phelps gave the U.S. an early lead with a personal best time in the opening 100 meters (48.42), then watched teammates Neil Walker, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak hold off Australia to bring home the gold with a time of 3:12.72, a championship record.

It was the 11th world championship of Phelps' career, tying him with Australia's Ian Thorpe (who retired in 2006) for the most all time, but Phelps greeted that news with little more than a grin and a shrug.

"After I'm done, I think it will (mean something)," Phelps said. "But right now, I have so many things going on in my mind and so many things up and coming. It definitely does mean a lot that I was able to add number 11."

Phelps looked so relaxed and calm Sunday, he was even able to make fun of himself, making reference to his disastrous first day at the 2005 FINA World Championships when he didn't even make the final of the 400 meter freestyle.

"I was able to swim in a final the first day, so it was definitely a lot better than the last world championships," Phelps said.

Towson teenager Katie Hoff didn't make onto the medal stand Sunday night, which, to be honest, wasn't much of a surprise.

But the fact that she finished fourth in the 400 meter freestyle, an event in which she has very little international experience, may send tiny ripples throughout the swimming world.

Hoff never seriously challenged France's Laure Manaudou, the world record holder in the event, who set a course record with a time of 4:02.61 on Sunday.

In fact, Hoff was 8th out of eight swimmers after the first 200 meters. But the 17-year-old got stronger as the race went on, and made a final charge to nearly catch Japan's Ali Shibata.

Hoff's time of 4:05.19 was a personal best, and let the rest of the world know, in addition to being the world's fastest female in the 200 and 400 medley, she may also be a serious threat to medal in a freestyle event in Beijing.

"It feels great," Hoff said. "To get a best time today, I was just really happy with it."

Hoff's performance was even more impressive considering she had the fastest time in the semifinals of the 200 individual medley (she'll compete in the final Monday night), then turned around 28 minutes later and nearly snagged a medal in the 400 freestyle.

"I'm just really proud of myself taking on both races," Hoff said. "It's amazing how fast (Manaudou) gets out. It's a good strategy for her. Hopefully I can continue to drop my times and eventually, in a year or two, give her a race."

E-mail

Reprint

Get home delivery of The Sun and save over 50% off the newsstand price

Phelps, Hoff off to fast starts

U.S. relay team sets championship record en route to gold medal

Online resources

Going deep

Going deep Sun sports special reports and in-depth coverage
	> 1983 O's > Recruiting Tavon Austin > Football: The tie that binds > Orioles > Baltimore Colts > Going deep: Other sports

Phelps, Hoff off to fast starts

U.S. relay team sets championship record en route to gold medal

Related links

Poll: Is Phelps the greatest Olympian ever?

Related topic galleries: Multi-Sport Events, Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff, Swimming, Awards and Prizes

Popular stories: Sports

Poll: Is Phelps the greatest Olympian ever?

Online resources

Going deep