Trials Throwback: Women’s 400 IM in 2008

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Less than two weeks to go until Olympic Trials get underway in Omaha, Neb. But before the meet, we wanted to look back at some of the great moments from past editions of the meet held inside the CenturyLink Center. Welcome to #TrialsThrowback!

For our first #TrialsThrowback we covered the men’s 400 IM from the 2008 Trials, and the second will cover the women’s equivalent.

The 400 IM was and still is the first women’s final of the meet, and it offered the crowd at the then-Quest Center an early look at the closest thing the American women had to a superstar at that point, Katie Hoff.

Hoff had qualified for the Olympic team as a 15-year-old in 2004, but she failed to make the top eight in the 400 IM and faded badly in the 200 IM final. But she had built up her career in the three years since, winning World titles in both distances in both 2005 and 2007. In 2007, she crushed the field on the back half on her way to a seven-second victory, and she set her first world record in the process, clocking 4:32.89.

But at Australia’s Olympic Trials in March 2008, Stephanie Rice broke Hoff’s world record with a blistering 4:31.46. The gauntlet was thrown down, but most pundits expected Hoff to respond.

Hoff qualified first for the final, and she found herself swimming right next to another 15-year-old hot shot, Elizabeth Beisel. Hoff trailed Beisel at the halfway point but just as she had at the World Championships the year before, Hoff built up a lead on the breaststroke leg.

After into breaststroke two-and-a-half seconds off Rice’s world record-pace at the 200, Hoff turned for the final 100 meters under world record pace.

Hoff’s freestyle carried her to the finish in 4:31.12. If you’re wondering how she felt about it, check the 6:50-mark in the video below for the look on Hoff’s face.

Hoff would go on to get the bronze in the event in Beijing as Rice and Kirsty Coventry became the first two woman to go under 4:30 in the event. Hoff’s American record from those Trials still stands.

Beisel got second that evening in 4:32.87, under Hoff’s previous American record. Beisel has been on the national team in the event ever year since and is one of the favorites to win the 400 IM at this year’s Trials.

Photo Courtesy: OMEGA Timing

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