Living

Dana Vollmer ahead of the women's 100M Freestyle semifinal at the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials on June 29, 2012 in Omaha, Nebraska. By Shoshanna Rutemiller, Swimming World 24-year-old Dana Vollmer was half her current age when she made her first USA Olympic Trials appearance in 2000. Twelve years, and an Olympic Gold later, Vollmer is set to make her mark in the London Olympics. At her first Olympics in 2004, Vollmer was younger than the 17-year-old World Record her 4x200 freestyle relay team broke when they won Gold. Unfortunately, she failed to qualify for the following Olympics in 2008. "In 2008 I was such a nervous wreck," Vollmer told the media at Trials. "I got to enjoy [Trials] a lot more this time around. " It must have been enjoyable, considering she won the 100 butterfly and placed third in the 200 freestyle, behind Allison Schmitt and Missy Franklin, earning a spot on the women's 4x200 freestyle relay in London. Vollmer started her swimming caree...

Natalie Coughlin during the 2012 Team USA Media Summit on May 14, 2012 in Dallas,Texas. By Shoshanna Rutemiller, Swimming World 29-year-old Natalie Coughlin, born August 23, 1982, in Vallejo, California is a seasoned Olympic veteran. However, going into her third Olympics, Coughlin's Olympic role has changed. The most shocking change is that she won't be representing Team USA in any individual events. "I have just a relay on the first day, and then I'm done and there to support my teammates," Coughlin told reporters after a disappointing trials run in Omaha. Coughlin opted to add the 100 butterfly to her trials schedule for the first time, after a change in the normal trials events order placed the butterfly before the 100 backstroke. Whether or not this choice affected Coughlin's trials outcome is up for speculation. After failing to qualify for the Olympics in either the 100 butterfly or the 100 backstroke, Coughlin told reporters: "I'm not as dis...