2008 Missouri Grand Prix Swim Meet - Olympic Swimmers In Action 15-18 February

MEET REPORTS

1. Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin And Hoff To Highlight First Session Of Finals at the 2008 Columbia Grand Prix

2. Kirsty Coventry Breaks World Record, Katie Hoff Lowers American Record - Morning Of Day 2 At The 2008 Missouri Grand Prix Swim Meet

3. Another Meet Record Set In Second Preliminary Session At 2008 Missouri Grand Prix

4. Hoff Breaks Second American Record of the Weekend at The 2008 Missouri GP Meet

5. Natalie Coughlin Breaks 100-meter Backstroke World Record at 2008 Missouri GP

6. Erik Vendt Sets US Open Swimming Record on the Final Day at the 2008 Missouri Grand Prix

MEET PREVIEW

Twenty Olympians, including eight-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps and four-time Olympian Dara Torres, are expected to compete at the 2008 Missouri Grand Prix, February 15-18 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo. The third stop in the 2007-2008 Toyota Grand Prix Series marks the first long course competition of 2008 for many of the top swimmers in the United States. The Missouri Grand Prix has traditionally been a highly-competitive meet and last year saw a world record fall.

Full Results of the 2008 Missouri Grand Prix from the Mizzou Aquatic Center

Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and the Texas trio of Aaron Peirsol (Irvine, Calif. / Longhorn), Brendan Hansen (Havertown, Pa. / Longhorn) and Ian Crocker (Portland, Maine /Longhorn), will also swim in Columbia. Lochte, Peirsol, Hansen and Crocker all hold individual world records in their specialty events. Rounding out the men's field are Olympians Erik Vendt, Peter Vanderkaay, Mark Gangloff, Neil Walker, and Scott Usher, as well as 2008 Olympic hopefuls Davis Tarwater, Eric Shanteau, Jayme Cramer and Nick Brunelli.

In addition to Torres, five-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.), and world-record holders Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.) and Kate Ziegler (Great Falls, Va.) will headline the women's field. Adding to the stacked women's field in Missouri are Olympians Amanda Beard, Kaitlin Sandeno, Tara Kirk, Rachel Komisarz, Kara Lynn Joyce, Margaret Hoelzer and Carly Piper, and National Team members Kim Vandenberg, Mary Descenza, and Leila Vaziri.

Descenza (Naperville, Ill.) currently leads the overall medal count of the 2007-2008 Toyota Grand Prix Series (five gold, five silver, one bronze). The top scoring swimmer at the culmination of the eight-meet Toyota Grand Prix Series will be awarded $20,000, courtesy of Toyota and USA Swimming. A leaderboard can be found online at USA Swimming.

The Toyota Grand Prix Series serves as an opportunity for athletes to race against top-notch competition as they continue their preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Other stops in the series include Columbus, Ohio; Santa Clara, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C. and Omaha, Neb. the last which will take place at the same location of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming.

Things to Watch for at the Swim Meet

• Speedo's New Suit
  On February 12th in New York City, Speedo will unveil the world's fastest swimsuit, which will be worn by athletes in Beijing. Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, Dara Torres, and other top swimmers, will race in the new suit for the first time at the Columbia Grand Prix.

• Can the "Golden Girl" Do it Again?
  Natalie Coughlin, who earned the nickname "Golden Girl" after she became just the third American woman to win five Olympic medals at one meet in 2004, will look to add to her hardware collection by qualifying for the '08 Olympic Team. With almost limitless potential, the Californian who swam an impressive eight events in at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia will make her first appearance of the year in Missouri.

• The Amazing Dara Torres
  Age is nothing but a number to Dara Torres. The mother of one, who at 40 years old is looking to qualify for her fifth Olympics. Torres, who took a six-year break from swimming after winning nine Olympic medals between 1984-2000, broke her own American record in the 50m free at the 2007 Nationals. If she qualifies for the 2008 Olympic swim team, Torres will become the first swimmer over 40 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic swim team.

• A World Record in Missouri?
  Last year, Michael Phelps shocked many when he broke his own 200m fly world record in Missouri. Can he do it again this year? His appearance in Columbia will be his first long-course meet of the new year so be on the lookout for some fast swimming and possible record-breaking performances.

• U.S. National Team Comes Out to Play
  Over 33 members of the 2007-2008 U.S. National Team are expected to compete in Missouri. In addition to the names mentioned above, the meet will also feature Neil Walker, Robert Margalis, Katie Carroll, Doug Van Wie, Kelly Harrigan, and 2008 Open Water World Championship Trials champion Micha Burden. As swimmers continue their preparation for the 2008 Olympic Team Trials - Swimming to be held in Omaha, Neb., the Missouri Grand Prix will give swimmers a chance to compete against the some of the best competition in the country.