«CNN HomepageHomepage
  « Back to Blog Main
August 15, 2008
'Settling' for silver and bronze, Hoff ready to be a fan
Posted: 1302 GMT

BEIJING, China - Katie Hoff is relieved that her second Olympic experience is over. At least in the pool. That was the overwhelming impression that I got from my short time with U.S. swimmer here at the Summer Games on Friday.

Yes, she came to the Beijing Olympics on a quest for five gold medals and the American came up short. Was Hoff disappointed? Sure. But she looked upon her time here as one big learning experience.

Hoff won a silver and two bronze medals at these Games and was proud of her accomplishments. While it may not have been what she expected, Hoff appears to be more determined than ever to make things right in London in four years time. She has both the energy and the drive to do just that in 2012 when she will be 23.

When asked about her headlining teammate, Hoff said that she's not exactly a "fan" of Michael Phelps. That's an odd word to use because they're friends. Katie, like all of us, is amazed at what her U.S. swim teammate is doing at these games.

Hoff said she looks forward to taking in a few Olympic sports as a spectator now that her program has wrapped. At the top of her list, a night or two in the Bird's Nest to watch track and field and an afternoon at the beach volleyball venue where she looks to cheer on fellow U.S. Olympians Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor to gold.

Posted by: ,
Filed under: China • Olympics • Sports


Share this on:
del.icio.us
Share post | 6 Comments | Add a comment | Permalink
MC   August 15th, 2008 2140 GMT

Congrats to Katie! Winning three medals in the Olympics is incredible! In a way it's too bad Phelps is doing so well, as all the other fantastic athletes' accomplishment might be perceived as less of a feat that it is. Anyway, it's been a great games so far, and I'm looking forward to even more excitement!
CNN Front Page–August 14, 2008 « Biodun Iginla’s Weblog   August 15th, 2008 2219 GMT

[...] Breaking records in the pool SI: U.S. women’s soccer in semifinals Hoff ready to be a fan | Beijing blog Medal tracker | Schedule | Photos | History iReport.com: Ask Michael Phelps | Fan [...]
Henry, NY   August 16th, 2008 1258 GMT

I don't know, but saying that she isn't really a "fan" of Phelps makes her sound bitter and jealous. I'd have thought that Phelps' teammates would be enthusiastic about him winning all these gold medals. But, I guess, when that takes away the spotlight from all the other swimmers, maybe a little resentment is justifiable.
Nicole   August 17th, 2008 1738 GMT

Maybe she's not a fan because she's a friend? That might make more sense, considering that everyone has reported she sees him as a big brother figure. She might be amazed by what he's done, but not as a distant fan might be. Just another read on it. Perhaps it was awkwardly stated above.
Hoon   August 18th, 2008 1444 GMT

True Henry. Imagine the other swimmers who won gold medals, no one really cares about them! It's not the same as if they won golds at any previous olympics. That's also what makes Phelps so great. He's transcended all known standards for greatness.
johnny   August 19th, 2008 1556 GMT

I agree with Nicole's reading of the comment
Leave Your Comment


 

Comments are moderated by CNN, in accordance with the CNN Comment Policy, and may not appear on this blog until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting. Also, due to the volume of comments we receive, not all comments will be posted.


subscribe RSS Icon
About this blog

Receive updates from across the world on the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. "Olympics and the World" is a blog offering you the thoughts and observations from athletes, journalists around unique personalities preparing for the Olympics in China. Whether it's from the training field, the newsroom or the homes of everyday people, "Olympics and the World" provides you a global pulse as the Beijing Olympics approach.

Special Report: Beijing 2008

Recent Posts
Athletes
Peter Reed Peter Reed is a British rower who will be part of the men's coxless four boat in Beijing. At 26-years old, he has only been rowing for six years after being spotted in a gym while using a rowing machine. He has had a rapid rise in the sport, having already tasted gold in World Cup events.
Read Peter's posts.
Claudia Rivero Claudia Rivero is Peru's top-ranked badminton player and will be a member of one of the smallest national squads going to Beijing. Based in Germany she received an Olympic scholarship. This will be her first Olympic Games.
Read Claudia's posts.
Gilbert Tuhabonye Gilbert Tuhabonye is a marathon runner who escaped the ethnic violence of Burundi to find a new life in the U.S. As well as coaching athletics he has been trying to fulfill his dream of competing at the Olympics. He is also the author of "The Running Man and "This Voice in my Heart."
Read Gilbert's posts.

Related Links
Categories
Archive
Powered by WordPress.com VIP