Olympics Notebook: U.S. swim team good mix of youth, experience

Tag : timer relays

Elizabeth Beisel emerged as a rising star at the U.S. trials,earning a trip to her first Olympics at 15. Garrett Weber-Galeassumed the sprint legacy left behind by Gary Hall Jr. Then there'sMegan Jendrick, back in the swim of things eight years afterwinning gold as a teenager.

They are among the fresh faces joining Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff,Natalie Coughlin and Ryan Lochte in the pool at the BeijingOlympics. Beisel, for one, still can't quite believe it. The teenager from Saunderstown, R.I., earned spots in the 200-meterbackstroke and 400 individual medley just two years removed frombeing on the national 'B' team, a step below the big-time.

"It's pretty cool being the rookie," Beisel said. "There are somany veterans here that will help me out with nerves and stuff. Iwas not expecting this." The bubbly Jendrick is back, this time with a different name aftermarrying three years ago. She won two gold medals in Sydney underher maiden name of Quann, becoming the youngest medalist on the2000 U.S. swim team at 16.

Jendrick narrowly missed making the team for Athens and thenretired. She'll swim the 100 breaststroke in Beijing. Jessica Hardy has been around for a few years, but never in anOlympics. The 21-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., earned spots inthe 50 free, 100 breaststroke and 400 free relay.

Another newcomer is Elaine Breeden, an 18-year-old from Lexington,Ky., who will swim the 100 and 200 butterflys. Her relativesinclude cousin Diane Sawyer, co-host of ABC's "Good MorningAmerica," and actor Johnny Depp, which should make her very popularwith her teammates. Another first-timer, Lacey Nymeyer, caught a break Monday when41-year-old Dara Torres dropped out of the 100 free in Beijing. Nymeyer was only set to swim the 400 free relay, but now she'llcompete in the 100 free while Torres focuses on the 50 free as herbest chance for an individual gold.