Representing Team USA: Captains Announced Wednesday Night in Knoxville

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 12. WEDNESDAY night in Knoxville, five Team USA Olympic captains were announced. Brendan Hansen, Natalie Coughlin, Peter Vanderkaay, Rebecca Soni and Jason Lezak earned captain honors.

This is excellent timing considering Team USA held an open practice Thursday morning, with media and spectators flocking to see the two-hour training session.

As for the picks, it comes as no surprise that the captains are all multiple-time Olympic athletes well respected in the sport of swimming. Although Soni is the strongest contender for multiple golds amongst the chosen captains, the responsibilities of the role require more than just scoring points and bringing home medals. Mentoring young Olympic athletes and bringing perspective in a sometimes-overwhelming OIympic atmosphere are high on an Olympic captain’s priority list.

Supporting their teammates is something Coughlin and Lezak will have plenty of time to do, considering they will compete in a single relay event — the 400 freestyle relay. Vanderkaay will swim the 400 freestyle, and Hansen the 100 breaststroke and 400 medley relay.

Lezak, at 36, is the eldest of the captains, with more than a decade on Soni, the youngest choice for captain. However, experience trumps age, as Lezak has four Olympic golds to his name and will mark London as his fourth Olympic stage.

Former world-record holder Hansen is heading into his third Olympics. London will also be Vanderkaay’s third Olympic appearance, with his most famed performance coming from the Athens 2004 4×200 freestyle relay upset of the favored Australian men’s relay team that included Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe.

As for 29-year-old Coughlin, London will bump up the Olympic total to three, one more than Soni.

At the end of her Trials run in Omaha, Coughlin told reporters, “I have just a relay on the first day, and then I’m done and there to support my teammates.”

A great attitude to have as a captain, and here’s hoping the sentiments of support will ring through all of the athletes on Team USA.

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