With the Olympics less than a month away, the world’s best athletes are preparing for the big stage. Several past, present and future Bulldogs are heading to Beijing to take that stage.

Swimming and Diving

The Dogs are well-represented in the pool. The honors began two years ago when swimming head coach Jack Bauerle was named the women’s head coach for the U.S. team.

At the U.S. swimming trials last week, former University standout Gil Stovall finished second in the 200-meter butterfly, behind world-favorite Michael Phelps, to qualify for the games.

University signee Allison Schmitt finished second in the 200-meter freestyle to earn her spot on the team.

For South Africa, three Bulldog swimmers have qualified for the Olympics. Troyden Prinsloo has made it in the men’s 1500-meter freestyle; Neil Versfeld in the 200-meter breaststroke; and University signee Wendy Trott in the women’s 800-meter freestyle.

Recent graduate Sebastien Rouault will represent France. Former swimmer Sarah Poewe qualified for the German squad in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke races. Former swimmer Kara Lynn Joyce, who won a pair of silver medals for the U.S. in the 2004 games, was added to the Olympic team in an announcement by USA Swimming Tuesday. Former diver Chris Colwill was nominated for the U.S. team.

Head diving coach Dan Laak will be an assistant for the team as well.

Track and Field

Reese Hoffa and Hyleas Fountain, former standouts for the Bulldogs, have both qualified for the U.S. in their respective events.

Hoffa, a five-time All-American while at the University, will be making his second trip to the Olympics in the shot put event.

Fountain will be competing in the heptathlon, a seven-event sport in which women get points for their performance in the individual events. Fountain leads the world in points earned in the sport this season. Rising senior Justin Gaymon will be the first alternate for the U.S. in the 400-meter hurdles.

Modern Pentathlon

Former Swimmer Sheila Taormina will become the first American woman to compete in three Olympics in three different sports. In the 1996 Atlanta games, Taormina made the team as a swimmer. In 2000, in Sydney, she did the triathlon.

This year she will compete in the modern pentathlon, a mix of sports sure to challenge athletes. The pentathlon consists of epee fencing, pistol shooting, 200-meter freestyle swimming, show jumping on horseback and a 3-km cross country run.