Column by John Lohn
CRANBURY, New Jersey, October 26. TWO weeks ago, this column slot provided a look at one man's vote for the top 10 swimmers of the decade. It was a tough task, but not nearly as challenging as this week's chore: Selecting the top 10 women for the 2000s. Putting this list together created some serious angst, but here we go.
1. Inge de Bruijn: The Dutchwoman gets the nod here because of her unmatched sprinting skill, which was complemented by dominance in the 100 butterfly. A triple-gold medalist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Inky was in another stratosphere compared to her competition, and it took a suit revolution for some of her world records to go by the wayside. De Bruijn came back four years after Sydney to repeat her Olympic title in the 50 free and added silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 100 butterfly.
2. Yana Klochkova: To be honest, I had her name penciled into the No. 1 slot for a short time, until my mind went in another direction. Not only did the Ukrainian star double in the medley events at the 2000 Olympics, she doubled up at the 2004 Games, too. For good measure, Klochkova was the silver medalist in the 800 free in Sydney. The nod went to de Bruijn only because the Dutch star was a little more dominant in her specialty events, and even that viewpoint is admittedly debatable.
3. Natalie Coughlin: Some individuals might argue that Coughlin is a little too high on this list, but she has won 11 Olympic medals between 2004 and 2008. Coughlin's excellence in the 100 backstroke carried the most weight, as she was the first woman under a minute in the event, and the first woman to crack the 59-second barrier. But she's also an Olympic medalist in the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley, and a superb 100 butterflyer. That range was tough to overlook.
4. Leisel Jones: The Australian was the premier breaststroker for the better part of the decade and, until the suit charade, her top times in the 100 and 200 breast events were basically untouchable. Jones has medaled at each of the last three Olympiads, including gold in the 100 breaststroke in Beijing. Add in her collection of medals from the World Champs and there's the reason for her inclusion in this slot.
5. Kirsty Coventry: The range of the Zimbabwean is a major reason why she sits in the middle of this list. Of course, we know Coventry best as the two-time reigning Olympic champion in the 200 backstroke. In Beijing, she also added silver medals in the 100 back and in both medley events, and she's also an impressive 200 freestyler.
6. Libby Trickett: The second Australian in the top 10 has spent much of the decade as one of the globe's best sprint freestylers and 100 butterfly performers. She's even proven her worth in the 200 freestyle, although her schedule hasn't allowed her to display her talent in that event on many occasions. Her medal record includes six at the Olympics and 15 at the World Championships.
7. Laure Manaudou: Right off the bat, I'll admit that the Frenchwoman might be listed too low, but here's the reasoning for why she's in this place. Although her middle-distance and backstroke excellence are formidable, she was a non-factor at the Beijing Games and, as a result, lost a little luster off her career, now in retirement. Still, Manaudou was amazing in the 200 and 400 freestyles and arguing for her higher inclusion makes plenty of sense, too.
8. Amanda Beard: What is appreciated about the American is the fact that early in the decade, at the Sydney Games, she battled back from obscurity to medal in the 200 breaststroke. Then she walked away from Athens with gold in the 200 breaststroke and silver in the 200 individual medley, and ultimately earned a spot at the Beijing Games. Her longevity and ability to return to top form after lengthy breaks is appreciated.
9. Britta Steffen: The German has proven herself as the premier sprinter in the world at the present time, having doubled in the 50 and 100 freestyles at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She repeated that performance at the 2009 World Championships and has also been a sound 200 freestyler, albeit primarily in relay duty.
10. Rebecca Adlington: The British distance star does not have the enduring credentials of some others on this list, but she's getting there. And, she has a wildcard in her pocket that prompted her inclusion. Simply, she's the woman who took down Janet Evans' long-standing world record in the 800 freestyle. Adlington was the 400 and 800 free Olympic champ in Beijing, and is a gifted 200 freestyler as well.
Note: On the outside, and just barely, is Aussie Stephanie Rice. An argument can be made that the double medley champ from the Beijing Olympics deserves a spot. Looking forward to hearing thoughts on this list, much tougher to sort out than the men's list.
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October 26, 2009 No Hoff? 6 golds at world champs 3 olympic medals? Seems like it deserves some recognition. And her times (especially the 400 IM) are still pretty good.
Hannah Stockbouer or Kate Ziegler? Both swept the distance races at consecutive world champs, but were nonfactors at any Olympics.
Jenny Thompson maybe? She had some pretty memorable swims on relays in 2000, stuck around, 2003 world champ.
DARA TORRES? 8 Olympic medals in 2000/2008, including 2 gold on relays. The sheer number of comebacks has to help her credentials
Shouldn't they at least get honorable mention?
Beard might be a spot or two higher if Beijing had gone a little better? Submitted by: David Rieder
October 26, 2009 There are so many: Susan OŽneill, Misty Hyman, Pellegrini...
But, Dara Torres and Jenny Thompson deserve some appreciation... Submitted by: nadador
October 27, 2009 Klochokova has to be rated slightly higher than de Bruin. Winning the IMs consecutively at the Olympics (2000/2004) along with her world championship medal haul AND world records.....She is number one on my list even though de Bruin's 100 fly record lasted longer than Klochkova's 400 I.M. Submitted by: paddles
October 27, 2009 Natalie... Submitted by: speedboat
October 27, 2009 Natalie... Submitted by: speedboat
October 28, 2009 To David Rieder: I think you are being a little American-centric. I'd respect your opinion more if the swimmers you suggest were not all predictably American.
-Jenny Thompson hasn't even been around most of the decade and plenty of other swimmers have posted sterling relay legs or won a world champ race. 1990s, maybe, but definitely not 2000s.
-Dara Torres, while her longevity is impressive, still only has a single Olympic silver (edited out unfounded claim).
-Katie Hoff - yes, she has achieved a lot - but unfortunately, she still doesn't have an Olympic gold, which is the pinnacle of the sport - when, arguably, she should have. The touch at the end in the Beijing 400m was a schoolgirl error that let her down a lot. Hoff is the one I would be most OK with making the list but again... it's those pesky Olympic golds - every single swimmer on Lohn's list has Olympic golds.
-Ditto for Stockbauer and Ziegler - ultimately, it is the Olympics that speak the most, even if that may not be fair. All of the other swimmers in Lohn's list have achieved more and it would be laughable to replace any of them with Stockbauer or Ziegler. Submitted by: CJ21
October 28, 2009 Yana Klochcova in my opinion.
Double golds in consecutive Olympics,
and in the IMs to boot. Submitted by: actnow
October 28, 2009 Therese Alshammar?? Still breaking WR!!! Submitted by: nadador
October 28, 2009 Therese Alshammar?? Still breaking WR!! Submitted by: nadador
October 28, 2009 I admit that I am very American-biased, but I think Katie Hoff's longevity and versatility deserves quite a bit of credit. 6 world titles and 3 Olympic medals, and major finals over a period of many years, vs. someone like Adlington, who just started finalling in Beijing (yes, the Evans world record gets her some credit...). Seems to me she deserves some honorable mention...
Dara deserves credit because of her EIGHT OLYMPIC MEDALS in 2000 and 2008 (2 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze), which seems more impressive than Beard, anyway.
I think there are a bunch of others who are clearly awesome swimmers but don't quite match up - Petria Thomas, Jedzeczak, Ziegler, Stockboer, JT, Alshammar, Pellegrini... all have one or two advantages, but weaknesses keep them off. I think the top 7 on that list are securely on the list, but the bottom three could come off based on someone's personal opinion. Submitted by: David Rieder
October 28, 2009 ridiculous list... How much thought actually went into this?
Amanda Beard - One olympic gold, a silver and a bronze in two olympics, one world record and one tied. One world championship and one silver.
Federica Pellegrini - One olympic gold and one silver, ten (?) world records. Two world championships, a silver and a bronze.
so longevity (and one olympic bronze) apparently plays a part. How, then, is Britta Steffen more enduring than Pellegrini? Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
October 28, 2009 Also, Pellegrini has ten times the credentials of Adlington, that one less olympic gold notwithstanding Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
November 3, 2009 Amanda Beard...definitely.
Submitted by: xxxxxxxjosh
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