January 26, 2004|By Paul McMullen | Paul McMullen,SUN STAFF
"In some regards, he keeps people away, because they think it's so elitist," Bowman said. "People call our swim school and say: `I don't want my kid to be like Michael Phelps, but I want him to learn how to swim.' Murray said he's like a character in the Harry Potter books, `he whose name cannot be spoken.' Michael brought some kids in, but now it's viewed as a place where the standards are so high."
NBAC Olympians
The North Baltimore Aquatic Club has produced six Olympians. A seventh, Patrick Kennedy, developed there but represented his college in 1984.
Name .......................... Yr. ............. Comment
Theresa Andrews ...... '84 ............ Gold medal
Anita Nall .................. '92 ............ Relay gold
Beth Botsford ........... '96 ............ Gold medal
Whitney Metzler ...... '96 ............ Finalist
Michael Phelps ......... '00 ............ Finalist at 15
Joanna Zeiger ....... ... '00 ............ 4th in triathlon
Pooling many talents
Michael Phelps isn't the only North Baltimore Aquatic Club swimmer who hopes to go to the 2004 Olympics. Here are profiles on six of the 13 others who will go to the U.S. or Canadian trials.
Jamie Barone
Age: 23
Hometown: Stamford, Conn.
Joined the NBAC in April 2001.
Qualified for the Olympic trials in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, with personal bests of 1:03.10 and 2:18.37, respectively.
Played high school hockey for three seasons, walked on to Loyola College swim team and won six Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles.
Earned business degree there in 2002.
Assistant coach for Greyhounds.
Kevin Clements
Age: 23
Hometown: Rowland Heights, Calif.
Joined the NBAC in May.
At U.S. Summer Nationals last August, took second in the 200 individual medley behind Phelps in 1:59.46, making him the second-fastest American ever.
Still holds the Auburn University record for the 400 freestyle (3:52.81).
Completed eligibility with the Tigers in 2002, then competed for Auburn Aquatics.
Also starred in water polo while in high school.
Emily Goetsch
Age: 18
Hometown: Timonium
NBAC member since March 2000.
Reigning national champion in the 100 butterfly, which she won in College Park in August the day before she turned 18.
2003 graduate of Roland Park Country School is delaying her freshman year at Southern California to spend pre-Olympic year at the NBAC.
Her father, Scott, earned three basketball letters at Duke in the late 1970s.
Katie Hoff
Age: 14
Hometown: Abingdon
Living in Williamsburg, Va., finished fourth in the 200 individual medley for Typhoon Aquatics at the U.S. Summer Nationals.
Family relocated to Harford County, in part so she could train with the NBAC satellite team there.
Set five national 13-14 age-group records during a 10-day stretch in December.
Her 400 IM best was bettered by only four Americans last year.
Courtney Kalisz
Age: 13
Hometown: Fallston
Member of the NBAC since spring 2001.
Has qualified for the Olympic trials in the 200 butterfly, where her best is 2:13.87.
Also holds national 11-12 age-group records in the 200 backstroke and 400 individual medley.
Eighth-grader at Fallston Middle School.
Won't turn 14 until May 18.
She and Hoff are training partners at the NBAC's satellite team in Harford County.
Marianne Limpert
Age: 31
Hometown: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Joined the NBAC in September.
Attempting to become the first Canadian to swim in four Olympics.
Finished sixth in the 200 individual medley in 1992, took the silver medal in 1996 and placed fourth in 2000.
In 1996, she was beaten only by a suspected user of banned substances.
Also holds the Canadian record in the 200 freestyle.
Sponsored by Speedo since 1994.
