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Swimming: Kate Ziegler
Photo Credit: Michael Madrid, USA TODAY
August 8th 9PM
Breaking Janet Evans’ swimming record last year just shy of her nineteenth birthday secured Kate Ziegler’s legacy in history and set the stage for her international dominance of distance swimming. But, as the calendar turns, the pressure to perform at a higher level is building. This George Mason University freshman must adjust her dry-land training routine and diet if she wants to peak at the perfect moment. She’s out of bed at 4:30 am every morning, balancing a day crammed with two practices, a strict food regimen, college classes and media requests, with a little time left over for friends and family. Kate, a Great Falls, Va., native, swims the 1,500 meter faster than any woman ever has, however, Kate won’t be swimming the 1,500 freestyle as there is no such Olympic event for women (although it’s offered for men.) Her coach of seven years, Ray Benecki, keeps her grounded as she sets her eyes on gold in Beijing.