Natalie Coughlin advances in 100 back at US Trials
Two-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin and budding star Missy Franklin have advanced in the 100-meter backstroke preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
Franklin was the top qualifier Tuesday morning in 59.54 seconds, easily moving the 17-year-old from Colorado into the evening semifinals. She led a quartet of teenagers who represent the U.S. future in the event. Rachel Bootsma, an 18-year-old from Minnesota, was second at 59.69. Elizabeth Pelton, an 18-year-old from Connecticut, was third at 1 minute, 0.55 seconds.
Coughlin advanced in fifth at 1:00.71. The top 16 from the evening semifinal move on to Wednesday’s final, where only the top two earn berths for the London Games.
NATALIE COUGHLAN BACKSTROKED ALL THE WAY FROM THE LONDON GAMES TO CONNECTICUT FOR 18 YEARS?? WOW SHE’S REALLY DRIVEN!! I JUST LIE ON MAI BACK ON A REALLY FIRM TRUMP MATTRESS WITH MEI JIMMY CHOO HEELS! WE CAN’T ALL BE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS, CAN WEI??
THE COUGHLIN SWIM
Two-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin and budding star Missy Franklin have advanced in the 100-meter backstroke preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. Franklin was the top qualifier Tuesday morning in 59.54 seconds, easily moving the 17-year-old from Colorado into the evening semifinals. She led a quartet of teenagers who represent the U.S. future in the event. Rachel Bootsma, an 18-year-old from Minnesota, was second at 59.69. Elizabeth Pelton, an 18-year-old from Connecticut, was third at 1 minute, 0.55 seconds.