Watching the Swimming Olympic Trials this week is on one hand inspiring, seeing world records fall, anticipating the excitement of following these athletes through to their dreams in China---understanding the many hours and days and years of discipline these athletes have put in. Just to make the final eight in any given Trials event takes special talent, extraordinary sacrifice. But it unnerves me when the gun goes off, knowing that after a mere minute or two of supreme physical and mental effort, after a long decade of dedication, only two will go to Beijing. The others, after all those laps, all those 5am workouts, all those lofty dreams, will go on to the rest of their lives...
