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Log inSwim Rivalry puts Crocker in race for gold all his own
Swim Rivalry puts Crocker in race for gold all his own
by Outspoken on Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:01 am
Swim Rivalry puts Crocker in race for gold all his own
By Larry Mahoney
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
He owns seven guitars and last year he added a new instrument to his collection: a banjo. Portland swimmer Ian Crocker, the world record-holder in the 100-meter butterfly, is preparing for his third Olympic Games and spending time playing one of his guitars between training sessions to relax.
The Beijing Games will be held Aug. 9-24, and Crocker begins competing Aug. 14 in the heats for the 100 butterfly. The finals are two days later.
Musical instruments are nice to have when he’s not in the pool, but gold is what Crocker wants in Beijing.
He already owns four Olympic medals: golds in the 400 medley relays in 2000 and 2004, a silver in the 100-meter butterfly (2004), and a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle relay in 2004.
But he doesn’t have an individual gold. That will require beating his close friend and rival Michael Phelps in the 100-meter butterfly.
Crocker finished second to Phelps in the 2004 Olympics and in the U.S. Olympic trials last month.
Phelps won six gold medals and two bronzes in the 2004 Olympics.
"I’m going for the individual gold in the 100 fly, trying to wrestle Michael for it," Crocker told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently.
Crocker, who has an endorsement deal with Team Speedo, also has four gold medals and four silvers in three World Championship meets.
He feels his 2004 Olympic experience was "a learning period."
"It didn’t turn out the way I wanted, but at the same time I’m not too disappointed because I felt like I was given my challenges and did the best I could to meet them," he said on www.iancrocker.com.
http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=167908&zoneid=500
(AP Photo/Mark J.Terrill)
By Larry Mahoney
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
He owns seven guitars and last year he added a new instrument to his collection: a banjo. Portland swimmer Ian Crocker, the world record-holder in the 100-meter butterfly, is preparing for his third Olympic Games and spending time playing one of his guitars between training sessions to relax.
The Beijing Games will be held Aug. 9-24, and Crocker begins competing Aug. 14 in the heats for the 100 butterfly. The finals are two days later.
Musical instruments are nice to have when he’s not in the pool, but gold is what Crocker wants in Beijing.
He already owns four Olympic medals: golds in the 400 medley relays in 2000 and 2004, a silver in the 100-meter butterfly (2004), and a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle relay in 2004.
But he doesn’t have an individual gold. That will require beating his close friend and rival Michael Phelps in the 100-meter butterfly.
Crocker finished second to Phelps in the 2004 Olympics and in the U.S. Olympic trials last month.
Phelps won six gold medals and two bronzes in the 2004 Olympics.
"I’m going for the individual gold in the 100 fly, trying to wrestle Michael for it," Crocker told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently.
Crocker, who has an endorsement deal with Team Speedo, also has four gold medals and four silvers in three World Championship meets.
He feels his 2004 Olympic experience was "a learning period."
"It didn’t turn out the way I wanted, but at the same time I’m not too disappointed because I felt like I was given my challenges and did the best I could to meet them," he said on www.iancrocker.com.
http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=167908&zoneid=500
(AP Photo/Mark J.Terrill)
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
