The U.S. team will look to follow up its dominant performance at the 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships in Shanghai, China, with another strong showing in England. In 2006, the U.S. team took home the FINA Championship Trophy for their overall performance at the meet, while Lochte claimed the top individual honor, winning the FINA Trophy. The U.S. team led the overall men's medal count with a total of 10 medals (three gold, two silver, five bronze) and was second on the women's side with a total of 11 medals (three gold, five silver, three bronze). Lochte won a total of six medals and set three world records at the meet, winning gold in the 200m back, 200m IM, and the 400m IM, a silver medal in the 400m medley relay, and two bronze medals in the 400m and 800m free relay.
The team will also feature several members of USA Swimming's National Team, including Olympic hopefuls Jessica Hardy (Long Beach, Calif.), Mary Descenza (Naperville, Ill.), Katie Carroll (Toledo, Ohio), and Randall Bal (Fair Oaks, Calif.). Hardy and Descenza represented the U.S. at the 2007 FINA Long Course World Championships, while both Carroll and Bal were members of the U.S. team at the 2007 Pan American Games.
The U.S. swimmers selected to compete at the Short Course World Championships were chosen based upon their performance at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming Short Course National Championships, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Lochte won four events at the meet, and set two American records. The Short Course World Championships mark the final international competition for U.S. pool swimmers prior to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
2008 World Short Course Championships Links
- Omega Timing Results
- Competition Schedule
- Free Streaming Video (if you live in the USA - Others, FINA may have a webcast for your area)
- A temporary pool has been built inside the Manchester Evening News Arena
