For many swimmers who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the break they’ve received since returning to the United States has been nice.

However, with the start of the new quadrennium, Georgia swimmer Allison Schmitt takes her first step toward making the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team today at the 2008 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming Short Course National Championships in Atlanta.

Also participating in this individual meet are Georgia swim team signees Adrienne Bicek, Kelsey Gaid, Jana Mangimelli, Megan Romano and Graham Munger.

“We expect to have lots of Georgia swimmers at meets like this,” said head coach Jack Bauerle. “I would venture to say that if we weren’t here [at home Friday through Sunday], we would have much more of our kids than not qualified, and able to swim in Atlanta.”

Bauerle is referring to the UGA Fall Invitational Georgia is hosting this weekend. Scheduled to compete against the No. 1 Georgia women and No. 10 men are Clemson, Harvard, Denver, West Virginia and California.

California is only bringing its No. 3 women’s squad, though, and is the only team not traveling a men’s team.

Schmitt will not compete with the Bulldogs this weekend after missing the fall season. But she looks to get back into the competitive swimming routine in Atlanta this weekend before rejoining the team in January for the spring semester.

“[Schmitt's] got a great opportunity to race, and race the best people in the United States,” said assistant coach Jerry Champer.

Schmitt’s meet runs through Saturday and the UGA Fall Invitational starts tonight in the Gabrielsen Natatorium at 5.