USA: OLYMPIC GAMES - American Olympic hopefuls gather in Chicago to discuss the upcoming Olympic games

Record ID: 329626

  • Title: USA: OLYMPIC GAMES - American Olympic hopefuls gather in Chicago to discuss the upcoming Olympic games
  • Date: 15th April 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHEILA TAORMINA, MODERN PENTATHALON AND 1996 SWIMMING GOLD MEDALIST SAYING: "There's wonderful things about each country, and then challenges that each country has going on. Things that we disagree with, a country on their policy or their human rights, but the purpose of the Olympic Games is for the world to come together during that time, and just be able to put aside those differences for the two weeks, so we all can come together in one place. And that is the beauty of the games." REPORTER TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL PHELPS SAYING: "I don't think anything is going to affect the games, you know. Like I said, the Olympic Games is such an exciting time for everybody. I mean it literally, brings the whole world together, and I think that's what it's going to do this year." CHINESE REPORTER AT MEDIA SUMMIT
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5CPRBU8PKKMK7NHKN2K88LUZ4
  • Story Text: The man who may take center stage again at the Olympics expressed optimism about the success of the Beijing Olympics on Monday (April 14) as well as his own prospects for another major haul of gold medals.

    "I mean there's no limit to success. And, you know, the harder I train, the better I can be, so it's all up to my training. I'm training harder and harder every day, and my training's, actually, probably been the best it's ever been lately," Phelps said.
    Phelps was not surprised by the 18 world records broken at the recent short-course world championships in Manchester over the weekend and had high praise for the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit which was worn by the USA's Ryan Lochte who broke four of the records.

    "The LZR racer has already changed the sport of swimming and how fast we can go in the pool. It feels like rocketship", he told reporters.
    Hundred-meter butterfly world record holder, Ian Crocker, will most likely be one of the biggest threats to Phelps in his particular disipline.

    "We're friends and also have done a lot of great things outside of the pool, together, as far as trying to promote the sport. And then, when we get in the pool, it's like anything, we're just down to rivalry and trying to get the job done and being the first one to touch the wall," Crocker said.
    Most of the athletes surveyed favored separating politics from sport as far as the upcoming games are concerned. Wrestler Lindsay Durlacher was more emphatic than his fellow prospects in insisting that political unrest in China or protests about the country's policies not threaten the hard work being put in by athletes.

    "We as athletes train so hard for this event, we don't need any of that stuff to get in our way. Politics, you know, I don't necessarily agree with what's going on over there, but hey, I'm over here to do my job on the mat and that's it. I want to get in, get my medal, and then, we can talk politics all day after that."
    Phelps concured.

    "I don't think anything is going to affect the games, you know.
    Like I said, the Olympic Games is such an exciting time for everybody. I mean it literally, brings the whole world together, and I think that's what it's going to do this year."
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