Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team (Photo by FIVB)

When the United States Olympic Committee named its SportsMan, SportWoman, Paralympian and Team of the Year on Thursday, some of the drama was missing.

Thanks, Michael Phelps, for making SportsMan of the Year a foregone conclusion. Just as he was in Beijing’s Water Cube, Phelps was unbeatable.

Thursday’s other winners weren’t shabby, either, chosen for excellence in and away from sports.

Swimmer Natalie Coughlin and gymnast Nastia Liukin are co-winners of SportsWoman of the Year.

Swimmer Erin Popovich is Paralympian of the Year.

And the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball squad is Team of the Year.

U.S. Swimming's tribute to its award winners.

Phelps set an Olympic record by going 8-for-8 at Beijing, setting seven world records, as well as American and Olympic records in all eight events. The eight golds brought his career total to 16 Olympic medals (14 gold), a record for a male Olympian. He also was USOC SportsMan of the Year in 2004.

Earlier, Phelps set two world, American and U.S. Open records at the U.S. Olympic Trials.  

Nastia Liukin (U.S. Gymnastics)

Liukin won five medals at Beijing, where she became the third American to win Olympic gold in the women’s all-around. Five medals at one Olympics ties the U.S. gymnastics record set by Mary Lou Retton at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and match by Shannon Miller in 1992 at Barcelona.

Besides a gold, Liukin took silvers on balance beam, uneven bars and in team competition, with a bronze in floor exercise.

Coughlin became the first American woman in any sport to win six medals at one Olympiad. Along the way, she set five American records and one Olympic record, increasing her career total to 11 Olympic medals.

At Beijing, Coughlin won the 100-meter backstroke, took second as part of the 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay, and third in the 200 individual medley, 100 freestyle and on the 800 freestyle relay.

Popovich, who also won USOC Paralympian of the Year in 2004, earned four gold medals and two silvers at Beijing. She won the 100-meter freestyle (S7), 400 free (S7), 100 breaststroke (SB7) and 200 individual medley (SM7), and placed second in the (S7) 50 butterfly and 50 free. Her Paralympics medal career total is 14 golds and five silvers.

The men’s volleyball team (Lloy Ball, Gabe Gardner, Kevin Hansen, Tom Hoff, Rich Lambourne, David Lee, Ryan Miller, Reid Priddy, Sean Rooney, Riley Salmon, Clay Stanley and Scott Touzinsky) had an undefeated run en route to winning gold at Beijing, although ranked No. 3 heading into the Games. Team USA whipped No. 1 Brazil, No. 2 Russia, No. 4 Bulgaria and No. 5 Serbia. The gold served as an emotional tribute to Todd Bachman, the father-in-law of Coach Hugh McCutcheon, who was murdered while sight-seeing in Beijing shortly after the Games opened.

Earlier, Team USA qualified for Beijing by winning the NORCECA Continental Qualifier last January in Puerto Rico.

BEIJING – Caroline Burckle, a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, earned an Olympic bronze medal Thursday morning at the Water Cube.

Handling the third leg of the 4-by-200 freestyle relay, Burckle rallied the team from fourth place to third, and anchor Katie Hoff held on to secure the bronze medal.

Burckle combined with Allison Schmitt, Natalie Coughlin and Hoff to break the world record. But that still wasn’t enough to beat Australia or China.

Australia’s Stephanie Rice, Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer and Linda McKenzie finished in 7:44.31, shattering the world record of 7:50.09, set last year by the U.S.

China finished in an Asian-record 7:45.93 for silver. Then came a bronze-medal, American-record 7:46.33. Fourth-place Italy set a European record of 7:49.76.

BEIJING – No medal, but seventh-place finisher in the 2008 Olympic Games isn’t too shabby.

That’s where Lexington’s Elaine Breeden wound up Thursday morning (Wednesday night EDT) in the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly. Breeden’s final time was 2 minutes, 7.36 seconds

Breeden, out of Trinity Christian Academy, was the eighth and final qualifier for the finals and thus drew lane eight at the Ice Cube.

Atlanta’s Kathleen Hersey, in lane seven, placed eighth in 2:08.23

China’s Liu Zige, who led qualifiers with an Asian-record 2:06.25, won in a world-record 2:04.18. Teammate Jiao Liuyang took the silver medal in 2:04.72.

Australia’s Jessicah Schipper, whose world record was broken, took third in 2:06.26. Three days earlier, Schipper won a bronze medal in the 100 fly.

Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejczak, the 2004 Olympic gold-medalist, placed fourth.

Japan’s Yuko Nakanishi, who came into the Games with the fastest time of 2008 (2:06.38) was fifth.

Breeden, who reached the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly before being eliminated, has one more fly test, the 4-by-100-meter relay.

BEIJING — Aaron Piersol and Ryan Lochte, co-world record-holders, each won semifinal heats of the men’s 200-meter backstroke Thursday morning at the Water Cube.

The Americans rank 1-2 overall going into the Olympic finals. Piersol finished in 1:55.26, Lochte in 1:55.40.

BEIJING – Kosuke Kitajima of Japan claimed the gold medal in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke Thursday morning, touching the Water Cube pad in 2 minutes, 7.64 seconds.

The mark is just off his world record of 2:07.51, but broke the Olympic record of 2:08.61 that he set a day earlier in the semifinals.

Brenton Rickard of Australia took the silver medal in 2:08.88, with the bronze going to Hugues Duboscq of France in 2:08.94.

Scott Spann of the U.S. placed sixth in 2:09.76.

Natalie Coughlin of Team USA led qualifiers for finals of the women’s 100-meter freestyle in 53.70. Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands was second-fastest at 53.81. Lacy Nymeyer finished 12th overall, eliminated in 54.74.

BEIJING — Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Sacred Heart) led off the 4-by-200 freestyle relay Olympic semifinals for Team USA, turning in the second-fastest leg (1:57.86) en route to a heat victory (7:52.43) Wednesday night at the Water Cube.

The U.S. ranked second overall, behind first-heat winner France (Olympic-record 7:50.37).

Burckle was seventh at 50 meters, fifth at 100 and second at both 150 and 200. She was followed by Christine Marshall, Kim Vandenberg and Julia Smit.

Said Burckle: “It’s really important to secure the middle lane for tomorrow. Everyone on the relay did well, so I’m very excited. … It’s overwhelming, but a ‘good’ overwhelming.”

 BEIJING – Elaine Breeden is through to the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly.

Barely.

Breeden claimed the eighth and final spot in the finals, placing sixth in the second of two semifinal heats Wednesday morning (Tuesday night in the U.S.).

 A Water Cube capacity crowd of 17,000 cheered China’s Liu Zige to victory in the second of two heats, won in 2:06.25. Breeden came in sixth, but her time of 2:07.73 edged Great Britain’s Jemma Lowe, who placed third in the opening heat with a time of 2:07.87.

 “I was stunned,” Breeden said of her advancement. “I wanted to be in the top eight in the 100-meter butterfly, so when I didn’t make it I was a bit disappointed. I’m just going to see what I can do (in the finals).”

Breeden, a Stanford University junior out of Lexington’s Trinity Christian Academy, will be joined in the finals by Atlanta’s Kathleen Hersey, tied for fourth in Breeden’s heat and tied for fifth overall (2:06.96) Others advancing out of Breeden’s heat included world record-holder Jessicah Schipper of Australia (2:06.34), defending gold-medalist Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland (2:06.78) and 2008 world leader Yuko Nakanishi of Japan, who tied with Hersey.

 China’s Jiao Liuyang won the opening heat in 2:06.42, followed by Aurore Mongel of France in 2:07.21.

Finals are set for Thursday morning (Friday night U.S.).

BEIJING — Lexington’s Elaine Breeden finished fourth in her heat and ninth overall during preliminaries of the Beijing Olympics women’s 200-meter butterfly, held Tuesday night in The Water Cube. That moves her on to Wednesday’s semifinals.

Breeden said she was disappointed with her placement but pleased with her time.

She finished in 2:07.92. Aurore Mongel of France won the heat in 2:06.49. Fastest time of the night went to China’s Liu Zige in 2:06.41.

Semifinals are set for Wednesday morning in Beijing (Tuesday night in the U.S.), with finals about 24 hours later.

“Get a good sleep tonight and be ready for a fast swim tomorrow,” Breeden said. “I’m really happy to see my family up in the stands.”

Although Breeden’s family has been here since the Games opened, they had not been able to make contact until Elaine spotted them in the stands Tuesday.

Breeden, a Stanford University junior out of Lexington’s Trinity Christian Academy, was eliminated Sunday in the semifinals of the 100 fly, but the 200 is her better event.

“I was really nervous after the 100-meter fly didn’t go my way,” she said. “I battled demons all day. That shook my confidence. But I’m pleased with my performance. I just wanted to get into the semifinals.”

Teammate Kathleen Hersey also advanced, winning her heat in 2:07.65 (seventh overall).

“I felt pretty nervous. I had knots in my stomach most of the day,” Hersey said. “This was the most nerve-wracking swim I’d had since the (U.S. Olympic) Trials. The crowd really gets you going, though.”

World record-holder Jessicah Schipper of Australia was fourth in Hersey’s heat and 11th overall.

“It is only a heat. Perhaps I did swim a little too slow,” Schipper said. “Maybe I didn’t put as much effort in as I should have considering how the heats are going at the moment. I didn’t do myself any favors going out that slow.”

David Walters, Ricky Berens, Erik Vendt and Klete Keller combined in the semifnals of the men’s 4-by-200-meter relay to post an Olympic-record time of 7:04.66. Australia held the old record of 7:07.05, set in 2000 at Sydney.

University of Louisville senior Vali Preda, eliminated earlier in the first round of the men’s 100-meter breaststroke, did not start Tuesday’s 200 breaststroke.

Italy’s Paolo Bossini broke the Olympic record in advancing to the semifinals. His time of 2:08.98 bested the time of 2:09.44 set by world record-holder Kosuke Kitajima of Japan in 2004.

However, Bossini didn’t have the record very long. Two heats later, Daniel Gyurta of Hungary churned out a 2:08.68 record-breaker.

U.S. entrants Eric Shanteau and Scott Spann both advanced. Shanteau ranked seventh overall (2:10.29), with Spann 10th (2:10.61).

Earlier, Team USA’s Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 100-meter freestyle. Weber-Gale ranked eighth overall (48.19). Lezak, the anchor-leg hero of the gold-medal 4-by-100 relay Monday, was 11th (48.33). Eamon Sullivan, the world record-holder from Australia, was the fastest qualifier (47.80).

“Yesterday was very emotional for me,” said Weber-Gale, referring to the world-record relay. “It has been a pretty tiring day coming off that high in the morning. I got into the pool today to cool myself down from the record and excitement. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

Said Lezak: “I was a little tired. I just wanted to get to the semifinals and not make the same mistakes as Athens (where he didn’t qualify for semifinals). So I went out hard.”

           BEIJING –  Elaine Breeden tied for sixth in her semifinal heat of the women’s 100-meter butterfly Sunday morning (Saturday night EDT), before a Water Cube sellout crowd of 17,000. So now she has another day to rest for the 200 ’fly at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

            “Not my best. I was a little disappointed with the time,” the Lexington swimmer said of her 58.55-second finish. “But my butterfly’s feeling good, so I’m just going to rest up and look forward to the 200, which is my best event.”

            Preliminaries in the 200 begin Tuesday night (Beijing)/morning (EDT).

            Breeden’s swim came moments after Michael Phelps snagged the first of what he hopes will be eight gold medals.

            His time of 4:03.84 destroyed both his day-old Olympic record of 4:07.82 and his world record of 4:05.25, set in June at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

            “Afterwards, I looked up and saw President Bush giving me a thumbs up and holding the American flag,” Phelps said. “That was pretty cool.”

            Breeden’s heat was won by reigning world champion Lisbeth Trickett of Australia in 57.05. Christine Magnuson, out of the University of Tennessee, placed second in an American-record 57.08, advancing to the finals. The former American record of 57.34 was set last year by Natalie Coughlin.

            Breeden touched sixth, tied with Alena Popchanka of France.

            Australia’s Jessica Schipper, world record-holder in the 200 ’fly, won the second heat in  57.43.

            Finals are set for Monday morning in Beijing (Sunday night EDT).

            Breeden agreed that her semifinal exit might be a blessing in disguise when the 200 comes around.

            “Yeah, we’ll see how it turns out,” she said. “But I thought it was a really good race yesterday and a pretty good showing today. That would have been my best time before the (U.S.) Trials, so I can’t be too disappointed with that. I’m just going to sit back and cheer for Christy.”

            Phelps led a 1-3 American finish in the IM.

            Laszlo Cseh of Hungary took the silver medal in a European-record 4:086.16. Ryan Lochte won the bronze in 4:08.09.

            Three other events were decided, with the U.S. gaining a relay silver medal and a pair of individual bronzes:

·    A Netherlands team of Inge Dekker, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Fmke Heemskerk and Marleen Veldhaus churned out an Olympic-record 3:33.76 in the women’s 4-by-100 freestyle relay. The U.S., with Coughlin, Lacey Nymeyer, Kara Lynn Joyce and 41-year-old Dara Torres took the silver medal in 3:34.33. Australia, anchored by Trickett, earned the bronze (3:35.05).

·    Katie Hoff of Towson, Md., took bronze in the women’s 400 indidual medley (4:31.71). Australia’s Stephanie Rice won, breaking Hoff’s world record in 4:29.45. Hoff’s record, set at the U.S. Trials, was 4:31.12. Rice was followed by South Africa’s Kirsty Coventry in an African-record 4:28.89. Elizabeth Beisel of Saunderstown, R.I., placed fourth.

·    Larsen Jensen of Bakersfield, Calif., beat his own American record in the men’s 400-meter freestyle to win a bronze. His time of 3:42.78 beat his 3:43.53, set at the U.S. Trials. Taehwan Park of South Korea won in an Asian-record 3:41.86. China’s Lin Zhang netted silver in 3:42.44. Peter Vanderkaay of Rochester, Mich., finished fourth.

           Team USA advanced both its swimmers to the finals of the men’s 100-meter breaststroke – world record-holder Brendan Hansen and Mark Gangloff. Hansen qualified fifth (59.94), Gangloff seventh (1:00.44). Norway’s Alexander Dale Oen was quickest (59.16), clipping his day-old Olympic record.

BEIJING — Elaine Breeden did what was necessary in her first Olympic race Saturday, easily advancing to the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter butterfly.

Michael Phelps, chasing a possible eight gold medals, did more than necessary in his first race at the National Aquatics Center, nicknamed “The Water Cube.” He broke his own Olympic record in the men’s 400-meter individual medley.

Breeden, a graduate of Lexington’s Trinity Christian Academy, placed third in her heat and sixth overall in a field of 49.

Teammate Christine Magnuson won the heat in 57.70 seconds. Brazil’s Gabriella Silva touched the wall in 58 seconds flat. Then came Breeden in 58.06.

“It was really good. I was happy with the swim,” said Breeden, a Stanford University junior. “It was good to get one race under. It’s been a long process since (last month’s U.S. Olympic Team) Trials and, hopefully, there are more good ones to come.”

Australia’s Jessica Schipper led all qualifiers in 57.58. Magnuson’s time held up for second, tied with China’s Zhou Yafei. Defending Olympic champion Otylia Jedrzaejczak of Poland was 17th in 58.53.

Breeden said she was spurred by loud encouragement from her teammates, a distinct minority in the sold-out Cube.

“I’ve got those 40 other swimmers from America I’m swimming for,” she said. “And no matter how many people are in the stands, when I hear them cheering for me I get the same feeling.”

Breeden said her parents and two sisters also were on hand after arriving a day or so ago. “I haven’t been able to contact them yet,” she said, “but I know they’re up there.”

Semifinals are set for Sunday morning (Saturday night EDT), with finals Monday morning (Sunday night EDT).

Phelps blew away the field in the IM. His time of 4:07.82 beat the Olympic record he set four years ago, 4:08.26.

Hungary’s Laszio Cseh had the second-fastest qualifier, 4:09.26. Ryan Lochte of the U.S. won his heat in 4:10.33, ranking fourth overall.

“I’m pretty satisfied with the time,” Phelps said. “I didn’t think I’d swim that fast in the preliminaries.

“All I know is I wanted to be in the middle (lane) of the pool tomorrow.”

Team USA’s Larsen Jensen led 400-meter freestyle qualifiers (3:43.10). Teammate Peter Vanderkaay ranked sixth (3:44.22).