While journalists from Japan, Australia, Germany, France and the USA scribbled frantically in their notebooks, Bowman discussed the strength of the U.S. men's team: "We come in with high expectations for our performances, but I think we field a very strong team," Bowman said. "We have a couple of world record holders in various strokes, and they're very experienced and have been in international competitions like this before. It's difficult to compare teams from different eras, but we have a lot of experienced strong swimmers and some up-and-comers who I think will pleasantly surprise us. I think they are ready to do something special here."
Responding to numerous questions from international journalists about rivals, or highly-anticipated match-ups, world-record-holders Phelps and Hansen sent a clear message: they embrace the challenges from abroad, but both will be swimming their own races.
"The last year has been a solid year of training, and coming into here, I'm looking forward to getting back to racing the 200m fly and 400m IM at this level," Phelps said. "It's been since the Olympics since I've raced (all of these events) at an international level. Swimming in Australia is fun. The crowd makes it fun, so we go out there and swim as fast as we can. I think you're going to see some fast times this meet."
"Race strategy comes a lot in to play," Hansen said. "Last summer I swam the 200 breast two completely different ways and broke the world record both times. This (competition) is just another canvas to start writing things on."
The Japanese journalists were particularly interested in Hansen's rivalry with Japanese breaststroker Kosuke Kitajima. "We have a pretty healthy rivalry," Hansen said. "Other than the language barrier, there's not much I can say other than good luck. We make each other swim fast but we always shake hands at the end of the race. He brings out the best in me, and I appreciate that."
Coughlin explained that this meet is a test for her. The world's fastest backstroker is expanding her program to seven events, including a debut in the 50m freestyle.
"I didn't have any master plans. But at our qualifying, which is a combination of the (USA) Nationals and the Pan Pacs (Pan Pacific Swimming Championships), I made it for four individual events," Coughlin said. "I thought 'what the heck, I'm going to try and do four'. I just want to see how I fare in seven events, including the relays. I think it's exciting to see people doing multiple events. I get really bored doing the same thing over and over. It is fun in training to mix it up."
As for Hoff - who took some good-natured ribbing from fellow Baltimore native Phelps - coming in to this meet as something of a veteran should result in improved times. Hoff has seen plenty of international success over the past couple years, earning triple-gold in both the 2005 World Championships and the 2006 Pan Pacifics.
""The Olympics in 2004 was my first international competition," Hoff said. "I didn't really know what I was doing, but over the last two years I have gained experience and learned to swim on the international stage. I now feel more comfortable and secure with myself."
When at last the flashbulbs died down, and the tape recorders were packed away, some athletes headed back to the hotel for some rest while others hit the pool for one last training session - all in preparation to take on the best the world has to offer.
About USA Swimming: As the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming has more than 300,000 members nationwide and sanctions more than 7,000 events each year. For more information, visit USA Swimming on-line.
