23 U.S. Olympic Team Members Commit to Swim at FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, July 28. – Now seven swimmers who broke six world and two American records at the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming have committed to compete in the 7th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Oct. 7-11 in Conseco Fieldhouse.

Amanda Beard of Irvine, Calif., who set a world record of 2:22.44 in the 200-meter breaststroke last July 12 in Long Beach, Calif., will swim in the temporary pools to be built in Conseco Fieldhouse.

Also, the American record-holders that will compete in Indianapolis are Klete Keller (400m free) and Larsen Jensen (1500m free).

Two weeks ago, it was confirmed that world record-holders Michael Phelps (400m individual medley), Brendan Hansen (100m breast, 200m breast), Aaron Peirsol (200m back) and Ian Crocker (100m fly) had committed to swim in the World Championships.

The list of World Championships commitments also includes two Hoosiers: Elkhart’s Lindsay Benko and Newburgh’s Bryce Hunt.

As of now, the U.S. World Championships team has 23 members of the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in Athens, Greece, next month. More U.S. swimmers will be added to the team between now and October. As many as 26 men and 26 women can make up the World Championships team.

The U.S. World Championships team will be coached by Stanford’s Skip Kenney (men) and Pete Malone (women) of the Kansas City Blazers Swim Club.

“We have exceeded our expectations with this list of athletes,” said Joe DeGroff, chairman of the Organizing Committee for the World Championships. “Other than for the Olympics, this is the best U.S. team ever assembled for an international meet in the United States.”

More than 900 swimmers from more than 120 countries are expected for the World Championships. Two temporary 25-meter pools, one for competition and one for warm-ups, will be constructed on the floor of the Fieldhouse for the event.

All-session and single-day tickets are on sale now at the Conseco Fieldhouse box office, through Ticketmaster.com or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Group sales can be arranged by contacting Indiana Sports Corporation at 1/800 HI-FIVES or 1/317 237-5000. Tickets also can be ordered through worldswim2004.com.
The U.S. swimmers committed to the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Oct. 7-11 in Indianapolis:

Amanda Beard – From Irvine, Calif… swam for University of Arizona and currently trains with Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics… was 1996 Olympic gold medalist in 400m medley relay and silver medalist in 100m and 200m breaststrokes… was bronze medalist in 2000 Olympic Games in 200m breast… qualified for her third Olympic Team in three events at the Olympic Trials by winning the 100m and 200m breaststroke and finishing second in the 200 IM… broke the world record in the 200m breaststroke at Trials as well as the meet and U.S. Open record in the 200m IM.

Lindsay Benko – Hoosier native (Elkhart) swims for Trojan Swim Club… she made 2004 Olympic Team by finishing second in 200m free… also swam the 100m free at Trials and finished seventh… won her 10th and 11th U.S. National titles, taking the 100m and 200m freestyles at Conoco Phillips (CP) Spring Nationals; also was second in the 400m free… served as team captain of the 2000 Olympic team… won a gold medal in the 800m free relay at the Sydney Games… won three medals (two gold, one silver) at the 2003 FINA World Championships where she broke the American record in the 200m free.

Haley Cope – From Chico, Calif., and a 2001 graduate of Cal-Berkeley… qualified for 2004 Olympic Team by finishing second in 100m back at Olympic Trials, also finished fourth in the 50m free at Trials… won her fourth U.S. National title, taking the 100m back at the CP Spring Nationals; also was third in the 50m free.

Natalie Coughlin – From Concord, Calif., and swims for California Aquatics… set Olympic Trials record in winning the 100m back in 59.85, the fastest time in the world this year… finished second in the 100m free… won the 100m back and the 100m fly as well as taking third in the 200m back at NCAA Championships; led-off Cal's 400m free relay with an American record in the 100m free split… first and only woman to swim the 100m backstroke under the one-minute mark… 2002 USA Swimming Swimmer of the Year… three-time NCAA Swimmer of the Year… two-time Sullivan Award finalist (nation's top amateur athlete)… first person since Tracy Caulkins (1978) to win five U.S. National titles at one meet (August 2002)… has broken American records 35 times… currently holds 18 American and five world records.

Ian Crocker – From Portland, Me… qualified for his second Olympic Team by finishing second in the 100m free and breaking his world record in the 100m fly, touching the wall in 50.76, well under the former record of 50.98, in the process, Crocker withstood a challenge from Michael Phelps… swims for University of Texas and was named 2004 NCAA Swimmer of the Year after winning the 100m free and 100m fly both in world record-time at the NCAA Championships; also was second in the 50m free.

Nate Dusing – From Villa Hills, Ky., and swims for Longhorn Aquatics… qualified for the 2004 Olympic Team after finishing fifth in the 100m free at the Olympic Trials, also swam the 200m free at Trials and finished in eighth… was eighth in the 200m free at the CP Spring Nationals… at Sydney Olympics, he earned a silver medal swimming prelims of 800m free relay.

Brendan Hansen – From Havertown, Pa… the Longhorn Aquatics swimmer broke world records in 100m and 200m breaststrokes in times of 59:30 and 2:09.04, respectively… won both the 100m and 200m breaststrokes for the fourth-straight year at the NCAA Championships swimming for University of Texas… swam the second-fastest breast split in history to help Team USA to gold and the world record in the 400m medley relay as well as winning a silver in the 100m breast (tying the American record) and a bronze in the 200m breast at the 2003 FINA World Championships.

Margaret Hoelzer – From Huntsville, Ala., and swims for Auburn… qualified for the Olympic Games by winning the 200m back at Olympic Trials, also swam the 100m back at Trials, finishing eighth… won her first NCAA title, taking the 200m free; also was second in the 100m and 200m back… was seventh in the 100m back at the CP Spring Nationals.

Katie Hoff – From Abingdon, Md., and a North Baltimore Aquatic teammate of Michael Phelps… became the youngest member (15) of the 2004 Olympic Team after winning both the 200m and 400m IM at Olympic Trials… broke the Trials meet and U.S. Open record in the 400m IM (4:37.67)… won her first U.S. National title, taking the 400m IM at the CP Spring Nationals; also was third in the 200m IM.

Bryce Hunt – From Newburgh, Ind., and Castle High School… qualified for the 2004 Olympic team in the 200m back, also swam the 100m back at Olympic Trials and finished eighth… was third in the 200m back and fourth in the 100m fly at the NCAA Championships swimming for Auburn.

Larsen Jensen – Qualified for the 2004 Olympic Team in the 400m free and the 1500m free after finishing the events in second and first, respectively, at Olympic Trials… won his fourth U.S. National title, taking the 800m free at the CP Spring Nationals; also was second in the 400m free and the 1500m free… American record-holder in the 800m free, lowering it twice.

Kara Lynn Joyce – From Ann Arbor, Mich., qualified for the 2004 Olympic Team by finishing second in the 50m free and first in the 100m free at the Olympic Trials… swimming for Georgia, won her first NCAA title, taking the 50m free, breaking the American short course (scm) record in the prelims; also won the 100m free at the NCAA Championships.

Klete Keller – From Phoenix, Ariz., and swims for Club Wolverine… defending Olympic bronze medalist, this Southern Cal graduate crushed the American record in winning the 400m free at the Olympic Trials in a time of 3:44.19… finished second to Michael Phelps in 200m free… swam the fastest American split on the 800m free relay at the 2003 World Championships helping Team USA to a silver medal and the American record.

Tara Kirk – Older sister of Dana, qualified for the 2004 Olympic Team by finishing second in the 100m breast at Olympic Trials, also swam the 200m breast at Trials and finished fifth… won her fourth-straight NCAA title in the 100m breast, finishing a perfect collegiate career in the 100m distance, breaking the world record (scm); also won the 200m breast (breaking the AR) to total seven NCAA titles in her career at Stanford.

Rachel Komisarz – From Louisville, Ky., and Lakeside Swim Team… qualified for 2004 Olympic Team in 200m free and 100m fly after finishing sixth and first, respectively, in the events at Olympic Trials… won the Kiputh Award at the CP Spring Nationals, taking second in the 100m fly and third in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyles.

Ryan Lochte – From Daytona Beach, Fla., and swims for University of Florida… qualified for the 2004 Olympic Team in both the 200m free and the 200m IM after finishing the events in fourth and second, respectively, at Olympic Trials; also swam the 400m IM at Trials and finished fourth… won his first NCAA title, taking the 400m IM and breaking the American record; also was third in the 200m IM at the NCAA Championships.

Peter Marshall – From Atlanta, Ga., and swam for Stanford… was world record-holder in the 100 back… at the NCAA Championships, Marshall won the 100m back with a world record setting time of 50.32 and finished fourth in the 200m back, it was Marshall's third NCAA title in the 100 meter/yard back event… took silver in the 50m back and bronze in the 100m back at the 2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)… helped Team USA to a gold medal and new world record in the 400m medley relay on the final day of the FINA Short Course World Championships and also won gold as a member of the 400m free relay.

Aaron Peirsol – Irvine Novaquatics and University of Texas swimmer… Peirsol won both the 100m and 200m backstrokes at the Olympic Trials, breaking his own world record in the 200m back in a time of 1:54.74 seconds… the 100m back time of 53.64 was the fastest time in the world this year… won his second NCAA title, taking the 200m back in world record time; also was third in the 100m back… Olympic silver medalist in the 200m back in 2000, the youngest medalist on the men's U.S. team… NCAA Swimmer of the Year as a freshman in 2003.

Michael Phelps – The 19-year-old phenom from the North Baltimore Aquatic Club qualified for the Athens Games in six events – the 200m and 400m IM, 100m and 200m fly events, 200m free and 200m back… Phelps finished second in his last two events, behind Aaron Peirsol in the 200m back and Ian Crocker in the 100m fly… Phelps opened the Trials with a world record of 4:08.41 in the 400m IM, beating his own previous standard by .68 seconds… in 2003, broke seven world records in just 41 days.

Kaitlin Sandeno – From Lake Forest, Calif… swims for University of Southern California and Trojan Swim Club… qualified for 2004 Olympic Team in four of the five events she swam at Olympic Trials… finished third in 200m free, first in 400m free, sixth in 800m free, second in 200m fly and second in 400m IM at Trials… broke the American record in the 400m IM (scm) in winning the title as well as the 200m IM title and took second in the 200m fly at the NCAA Championships.

Jenny Thompson – From Dover, N.H. and swims for Badger Swim Club… the most decorated U.S. female Olympic athlete in history, Thompson became only the third female swimmer to ever qualify for four Olympic Games by qualifying in the 50m free and the 100m fly at 2004 Olympic Trials… has won 10 Olympic medals, eight gold… named the Women's Sports Foundation's Sportswoman of the Year in 2000… owns most U.S. National titles of any active swimmer with 26… owns 79 medals from international competition, including 14 from the FINA World Championships making her the most decorated swimmer in history.

Peter Vanderkaay – From Rochester, Mich., and swims for University of Michigan and Club Wolverine… qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing third in the 200m free; also swam the 400m free at Trials and finished third… won his first and second NCAA titles, taking the 400m free and 1500m free; also was fifth in the 200m free.

Neil Walker – From Verona, Wis., and swims for Longhorn Aquatics… qualified for his second Olympic Team by finishing fourth in the 100m free at the Olympic Trials… was fifth in the 100m free and 100m back as well as tying for sixth in the 50m free at the CP Spring Nationals.

Amanda Weir – From Lawrenceville, Ga., and swims for Swim Atlanta… qualified for 2004 Olympic Team in the 100m free after finishing third at Olympic Trials, also finished seventh in 50m free… was second in the 100m free at the CP Spring Nationals… is the fourth-fastest American ever in the 100m free, leading Team USA to a gold in the 400m free relay at the 2003 Pan American Games.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming World and American Records Set

Michael Phelps – 400m IM – July 7, 2004 – 4:08.41 (WR)

Klete Keller – 400m free – July 7, 2004 – 3:46.73 (AR)

Brendan Hansen – 100m breast – July 8, 2004 – 59.30 (WR)

Brendan Hansen – 200m breast – July 11, 2004 – 2:09.04 (WR)

Amanda Beard – 200m breast – July 12, 2004 – 2:22.44 (WR)

Aaron Peirsol – 200m back – July 12, 2004 – 1:54.74 (WR)

Ian Crocker – 100m fly – July 13, 2004 – 50.76 (WR)

Larsen Jensen – 1500m free – July 14, 2004 – 14:56.71 (AR)

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