Natalie Coughlin Anxious For Multiple Racing Opportunities At Pan American Games

Knoxville, TN - December 7, 2013: Natalie Coughlin wins the Women's 100 Freestyle during the 2013 AT&T Swimming Winter National Championships on December 7, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center. Photo By Matthew DeMaria/Tennessee Athletics
Photo Courtesy: Matthew DeMaria/Tennessee Athletics

By Jeff Commings

TUCSON – Natalie Coughlin has represented the United States at almost every major international swim meet in an elite career spanning more than a decade. The only meet she’s never attended is the Pan American Games, but the 32-year-old will get the chance to add that to her resume in July when she headlines a strong American team in Toronto.

USA SWIMMING PAN AMERICAN GAMES ROSTER

While the opportunity to complete what could essentially be called the Grand Slam of swimming competitions is exciting, one might think Coughlin would be disappointed that she’s not at the world championships, which will be held one month later in Russia with a different squad of Americans. But in a telephone conference call with media members, she said she couldn’t be happier to compete in Canada.

“I’m not looking at it as a negative,” Coughlin said. “I’m looking at it as going to Canada. I get to go with a great roster of people who I know well, and I get to represent my country. It’s an amazing competition where I’ll get to swim a lot.”

Coughlin is scheduled to race the 50 and 100 freestyles at the new Aquatics Centre and Fieldhouse in Toronto, as well as the 4×100 freestyle relay. She’s likely to compete in the 4×100 medley relay, if she is the fastest American in the 100 free at the meet. Even though it’s not the highest-profile international swim meet of the year, Coughlin is treating it as if everything is on the line in Toronto.

“As I’ve become older and have more experience, the external things really don’t affect me that much,” she said. “Whether it’s the Olympic Games or the (Arena Pro Swim Series), I approach them in the same way. I know that I am a very competitive person, and when the beeper goes off and the race starts, the environment doesn’t change.”

The 12-time Olympic medalist and 20-time long course world championship medalist is part of a 36-member American swimming team at the Pan American Games, some of whom might find themselves on next year’s Olympic roster. Coughlin hopes to be one of those on the plane to Rio de Janeiro in about 18 months, where she could become the most-medaled American woman in Olympic history.

Winning a possible 13th Olympic medal “is somewhere in the back of my mind, but that’s not what drives me,” she said. “(In London) I didn’t have a successful Olympics. Though I earned that bronze medal (in the 400 free relay), I wanted to do so much more. I didn’t want to end my career on the note of London. I want to see this process through and end things on a good note.”

While Coughlin has been focusing on freestyle almost exclusively since the 2012 Olympics, there’s a glimmer of hope that she might return to the 100 backstroke at the Olympic Trials. Coughlin won the 100 back at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and missed making the 2012 squad in the event.

“There’s a possibility (of swimming 100 back at Olympic Trials),” Coughlin said. “My focus is still on the 100 freestyle.”

That event gives Coughlin the best opportunity to make her fourth Olympic team. The top six finishers in the 100 freestyle go to the Olympics, with places one and two swimming the individual event and two through six selected for relay duty. Coughlin’s performances in Toronto this summer could answer a lot of questions regarding her chances of going to Rio.

The year before the Olympics is a very important one,” she said. “This will give me an indication of where I’m at in training. “It’s the last big step before our Olympic Trials, and hopefully the Olympics.”

USA SWIMMING PAN AMERICAN GAMES ROSTER

Natalie Coughlin Photo Gallery

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Katie Lord
9 years ago

Go Natalie!

1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x