Odds and Ends: Emerging U.S. Talent; All-Time Championship Finalists; Thoughts on Ian Thorpe, Matt Targett

Column by John Lohn, Swimming World senior writer

PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN, August 15. LESS than a year from now, the London Olympics will have come to a close and we'll be able to grade the performance of the United States squad. It is easy to predict some of the individuals who will race for the Red, White and Blue, but who are some athletes who might be flying under the radar? Here's a look at three swimmers who might not immediately jump to mind, but could make an impact for the U.S.

Rachel Bootsma: Yes, she is known as a rising star in the backstroke events, but Bootsma makes this list because of the difficulty of qualifying for London in the 100 backstroke. In order to do so, Bootsma will have to upend the likes of Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin and Elizabeth Pelton. It's not going to be an easy task, but considering her 59.65 clocking from Nationals, it's doable.

Jimmy Feigen: Once pegged as a future standout in the sprint ranks for the United States, Feigen has been beset by illness at a few inopportune times. Still, he has the talent to emerge as a guy the Stars and Stripes can rely on in the 50 and 100 freestyles and, most importantly, in relay duty. Feigen delivered some strong efforts at Nationals and can be expected to be even better when Omaha rolls around.

Lia Neal: We've talked about this teenager before in terms of the 50 and 100 freestyles, but the 1:58.26 Neal uncorked at Junior Nationals in the 200 free really opened some eyes. She could be on the verge of a major breakthrough, which would only strengthen an American women's squad that is looking awfully good.

**So, what do you think of the aforementioned names? And, who are some of your under-the-radar picks to represent the United States in London?

**Wanted to get some discussion going on all-time finals, so over the next several weeks, we'll ask readers to put together historical eight-person championship finals in specific events. Fill out the field based on the greatest swimmers in history and post it in the comments section.

First Up: Men's and Women's 200 Breaststroke.

Lohn's Lineup (Alphabetical order): Mike Barrowman; Victor Davis; Daniel Gyurta; Brendan Hansen; John Hencken; Kosuke Kitajima; Norbert Rozsa; David Wilkie.

Lohn's Lineup (Alphabetical order): Amanda Beard; Penny Heyns; Leisel Jones; Agnes Kovacs; Anita Lonsbrough; Galina Prozumenshchikova; Rebecca Soni; Eva Szekely.

**It is often said that true friends reveal themselves in times of adversity. That adage proved true at the recently concluded World Championships, with Australian Matt Targett standing up for a pal and former collegiate teammate.

En route to gold medals in the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly, Brazilian Cesar Cielo came under significant fire for his failed doping test earlier in the summer. It wasn't until the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared Cielo that he was eligible to race in Shanghai. Not surprisingly, many athletes and media outlets – including here – called for a suspension of Cielo.

This portion of this article, however, isn't intended to revisit the circumstances. Rather, it is to commend Targett for defending Cielo in a tough situation. The Aussie sprint star, who helped his homeland win gold in the 400 freestyle relay, spoke up for his friend in front of the media and also took umbrage with the thumbs-down sign of Kenya's Jason Dunford in response to Cielo's triumph in the 50 fly.

Whether or not you agree with the ruling that allowed Cielo to race at the World Champs, you have to admire the integrity of Targett. He saw a mate in need of support and answered the call. That's what true friends do.

**The next big thing to assess in the sport will be Ian Thorpe's return to competition, likely slated for November in Singapore in World Cup action. Although the meet will unfold in a short-course format, we'll get an idea of how Thorpe has been progressing in his training under coach Gennadi Touretski, the mentor to Alexander Popov.

What Thorpe does in World Cup competition will hardly determine whether he qualifies for the London Games, but it will provide a gauge as to his ability to make the Aussie squad. Where do you think Thorpe will be during the World Cup season?

Follow John Lohn on Twitter: @JohnLohn.

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