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    Fourth-Place Medal

    Natalie Coughlin finally makes 2012 Olympic team with top-six finish in 100m

    By Maggie Hendricks | Fourth-Place Medal – 12 hours ago

    (AP)

    With a time of 54.44 and a sixth place finish, two-time Olympian Natalie Coughlin earned a spot on Team USA in the 100m freestyle. Jessica Hardy won the race with a 53.96, followed by Missy Franklin at 54.15. The top six swimmers in the race are headed to London to represent the U.S. in the 4x100 relay.

    "This isn't exactly how I expected this meet to turn out for me, but I couldn't be happier. I'm going to my third Olympic games and I'll do my best to represent my country," Coughlin said after the race to NBC.

    [ Photos: U.S. Olympic swim trials ]

    Barely making the team is not the position Coughlin expected to be in. After winning gold in the 100m backstroke in Athens and Beijing, Coughlin was a favorite to represent the U.S. again in her signature stroke. She missed qualifying both the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly, and made Team USA by the skin of her teeth.

    Now, she will have a chance to add a 4x100 free medal to her hardware chest, which includes three golds, four silvers and four bronze medals.

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    3 comments

    • Leroy
      Leroy  •  7 hours ago
      She has been my favorite swimmer for a decade ! This will be her gift to US swimming to mentor those girls who idolized her growing up .On any given day she may be the best 2 or 3 in 3 different strokes. At least her hand got to the wall to qualify. Good luck to all USA swimmers and Reley teams!!!!
    • donna
      donna  •  Sacramento, California  •  9 hours ago
      how are there 6 swimmers for the 4x100 relay? Do they split up the qualifiers or something?
      • Tyler
        Tyler 9 hours ago
        They have alternates (in case something goes wrong) and the two slower swimmers will usually swim in the preliminary heats so the faster ones can rest.
      • jennifer
        jennifer 8 hours ago
        She needs to focus more time on her swimming and less time on celebrity.
      • Winston
        Winston 4 hours ago
        To even make it to the trials takes months of dedication and hardwork, day in and day out. You don't know what you're talking about
    • A Yahoo! User  •  9 hours ago
      thank god. she deserves it.
     Post a comment
    2012-6-27-19-30-00
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