Katie Hoff

OMAHA, Neb. - Michael Phelps did not grow up a dreamer of small dreams. His reach, even from a very young age, always managed to exceed his grasp, as poet Robert Browning once wrote. * Phelps yearned to become a professional athlete like his idol Pablo Morales, and, in time, even though he made it so, it was not enough. He longed to win just one gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, ended up with six in Athens, and when it was over, he wanted more. He vowed to change the sport of swimming, and 25 world records later, there is so much more he still wants to achieve.

To those who spend their summers at a Baltimore-area pool, especially for anyone involved in competitive swimming, watching native son and daughter Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff dominate the field at the U.S. Olympic swim trials this week has been a thrill. Beijing may be a long way from local summer swim teams, with their 6-year-olds struggling to finish 25 meters of backstroke without veering off into the lane lines or preteen breaststroke heats so slow that timers may be tempted to trade their stopwatches for calendars, but the connection is there nonetheless.

OMAHA, Neb. -- In the eyes of the world, Katie Hoff has always been a great swimmer. That was obvious, even when she was 14 years old. But at age 19, on the eve of her second Olympic Games, Hoff has become something more. Something that cannot be taught and cannot be acquired even with hours of training. She has become an elite racer. There is a difference between the two, swimmer and racer, and it is becoming increasingly evident - especially after last night's performance at the U.S. Olympic trials - that Hoff is mastering the latter.

OMAHA, Neb. -- At some point over the past several years - it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when - Katie Hoff figured out a way to channel all her nervous pre-race energy into a frenetic, yet disciplined, routine. When she stands on the starting block, she practices her stroke, then adjusts her goggles. She fidgets with her swimsuit, then tugs on her swim cap. The cycle repeats itself as she goes over the race in her mind. Goggles. Swimsuit. Swim cap. Adjust. Fidget. Tug. It can seem chaotic to the casual observer, but watch it a few times and you realize how businesslike the routine is. By the time the race starts, there is only one thing left on her checklist.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Katie Hoff doesn't do cocky. And unlike the way some elite athletes try to come off as humble, it's not an act. "Something I value is humility," she said recently. "I can't stand cocky." You can present her with all the evidence. You can remind her that she's regarded as one of the best female swimmers in the world. You can bring up her six world championship medals. You can read back to her all the praise that coaches and competitors tend to throw her way each meet, and at most she'll smile and greet it with a shrug.

What if someone told you that the fastest female swimmer in the United States isn't some fresh-faced prodigy just entering her prime? What if it weren't someone training six hours a day, eating, breathing and living the sport? What if, instead, the fastest American happened to be a 41-year-old mom coming back from shoulder surgery? A 41-year-old mom who already retired once? What if, against logic and odds, you heard that she has been getting faster as she has grown older? What if she went into the U.S. trials in Omaha, Neb., next week with a chance to make her fifth Olympic team, but her first since 2000?

Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff aren't just showing off their swimming in Missouri. They're showing off their new Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits. And that means they're showing off their birthday suits, too. What Speedo calls "the world's fastest swimsuit" is kinda, well, see-through. At least in the right light. Like on a stage in midtown Manhattan last week, where Phelps, Hoff and others modeled the high-tech suits for the media. And on the set of the Today show, where Phelps, Hoff and other elite swimmers also appeared.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- When Katie Hoff was less than two pool lengths into the 400-meter freestyle final yesterday, everyone at the Missouri Grand Prix - including the swimmer - sensed something special might be happening. At each turn, as her lead widened and her time kept pace with the U.S. record, the crowd turned up the volume and the announcer grew more frantic. Phelps cruises Michael Phelps wins the 200 butterfly in the second-best time ever, 1:53.31. PG 3D

Swimming -- Katie Hoff of Towson set two American records at last night's North Baltimore Aquatic Club Christmas Meet at the Naval Academy. She finished the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:10.77, beating the old record by 11 seconds. She had a time of 1:53.77 in the 200 IM. Youth football -- Baltimore's Westport Patriots (Midget class) defeated the Suncoast Bucs (Florida), 27-8, to win the Pop Warner Division II national championship in Orlando. College soccer -- Amanda DaCosta scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute to help Florida State advance to its first NCAA Women's College Cup final with a 3-2 win over Notre Dame in College Station, Texas.

The Picks This week's guest is swimmer Katie Hoff of Towson. Ravens, 23-6 No Marc Bulger. No Steven Jackson. No chance against this Ravens defense. Edward Lee Ravens, 16-6 Both offenses are struggling, but at least the Ravens' defense is still stout. Rick Maese Ravens, 20-10 Who would ever have thought that by Week 6 we'd be hailing the Ravens' offensive line as one of the few bright spots? Don Markus Ravens, 14-7 The offense will be a little better, but not much, leading to more chants for Kyle Boller.