What To Look For This New Year

Column by John Lohn, Swimming World senior writer

BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, January 3. HAPPY New Year to our faithful readers. Hopefully, the first few days of 2011 have treated you well, and the rest of this year brings many positive moments. In the swimming world, this year is key as a foundation-building 12 months for the 2012 Olympics in London. Here are a few things to keep an eye on for 2011.

**Like Michael Phelps did in Melbourne in 2007 for Beijing a year later, look for Ryan Lochte to use the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai as a major stepping stone for the London Games. While Lochte's program for the 2012 Olympics is expected to be more daunting than what he'll tackle at the World Champs, Lochte has a chance to confirm his standing as the current No. 1 swimmer in the world and elevate the hype that will follow him into London.

Lochte says he was only half rested for what he did at the recent World Short Course Championships, so we could be in store for a sensational showing. Of course, no long-course world records were established in the year that just ended. That won't be the case in 2011. Lochte will lower – and convincingly so – his global standard in the 200 individual medley.

Meanwhile, don't be surprised if he walks away from a loaded 200 freestyle final with the gold medal, having edged the likes of Phelps, Paul Biedermann and Tae Hwan Park. That event, by the way, is an early contender for being the highlight clash of the World Championships. Certainly, we're not counting out Phelps, who obviously could rise up again and show the world who is boss.

**Although she won't be in action at the World Championships in July, France's Laure Manaudou has a big year ahead. Having announced her return to competition, she has the opportunity in 2011 to prove she can return to the form that once made her the premier middle-distance freestyler in the world. While Manaudou did not leave the sport at her peak, her history is reason enough to believe she can again be an international factor.

Despite the fact that Italy's Federica Pellegrini did not have a strong showing at the World Short Course Champs, it would be unwise to think she won't be a major player going forward. Meanwhile, with Great Britain's Rebecca Adlington on the scene and American Katie Hoff a force again – distinguished by her gold in the 400 free at the WSCC – the middle-distance free events will be great fun in the coming days.

**We at Swimming World pride ourselves in highlighting not just the accomplishments of international and collegiate stars, but also standouts at the high school level. As a result, here's a reminder to pay close attention to the results of the Pennsylvania High School Championships in March at Bucknell University.

Probably the hottest recruit in some time, Hershey High's David Nolan – bound for Stanford – would likely win any event he chose at Pennsylvania States, one of the most competitive state competitions in the nation. What Nolan will swim is up to he and his coach, Greg Fastrich, but the potential of a pair of national records is there.

As a junior last year, Nolan set a national record in the 200 individual medley, with his time of 1:43.43 good enough for fourth at the NCAA Championships. If Nolan goes the 200 IM route again, it will be interesting to see if he can post a time quick enough to win at NCAAs. With Texas' Austin Surhoff returning as the college champion, it won't be an easy task. Is it doable, though? Sure.

**In general, here is to a sensational 2011 in our sport. Here's to tremendous competition, budding rivalries and first-rate performances. And here's to cleanliness in the pool, that being the lack of performance-enhancing drugs and drama. Hey, one can hope.

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