Practice time tarnishes gold hopes

From wire reports

July 13, 2008

Lisa Leslie and the United States women's basketball team have dominated the past three Olympics, taking home gold each time. But a gold medal in Beijing is no sure thing with the Americans short on team training and the rest of the world catching up.

In the past few Olympics it wasn't a question of whether the United States would win a gold medal, it was how wide the margin of victory would be. The Americans went 8-0 in the 2004 Olympics, winning by an average of nearly 24 points. They beat Australia, 74-63, to win the gold.

Already, however, the Beijing Olympics have been a bit more challenging for the Americans' preparation. With athletes playing overseas in the winter and with the WNBA in the summer, it has been tough to get everyone together. All 12 members of the team won't be together until the end of July, when the U.S. holds a training session right before the Summer Games.

"We definitely are the underdogs in terms of preparation. What we have going is tremendously talented athletes who are very hungry," U.S. coach Anne Donovan said.

The United State has been forced to go with a piecemeal training philosophy, holding different training camps and tours over the past two years to help the selection committee choose from a pool of 29 players.

Joining Leslie on the team are three-time Olympian Katie Smith and 2004 gold medalists Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings and Tina Thompson. DeLisha Milton-Jones earned a gold medal in 2000 but missed the Athens Olympics with an injury. The Americans also have many newcomers in Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Cappie Pondexter and Kara Lawson.

The U.S. team is in transition with longtime stars Dawn Staley and Sheryl Swoopes gone. Staley will still be on the sideline as an assistant coach. Having so many new players doesn't worry Donovan.

"It's such a great mixture of Olympic gold medalists with some really tremendous young talent," the coach said. "I love the combination of players that we have."

Donovan hopes the team's hunger for a medal will help it get past the difficult training schedule.

"The commitment of the players is to get a gold medal in August, so we have to make the most of the two weeks we have for the preparation," she said.

•Track and field Dwain Chambers won the 100 meters at Britain's Olympic trials yesterday and now must wait to see whether a judge overturns his Olympic ban. Chambers, who is returning from a two-year drug ban, finished in 10.00 seconds. That should also ensure a berth in the 400 relay if his legal team can persuade a judge at London's High Court on Wednesday to grant an injunction against the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban on drug cheats. Britain has to set its squad by July 20 for the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. The BOA will argue that the sprinter's challenge would not succeed at a full trial. Chambers, 30, returned to the track this year after a ban from 2003 to 2005. He tested positive for the steroid THG in August 2003.

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Practice time tarnishes gold hopes

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Practice time tarnishes gold hopes

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