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Beard makes an immediate splash

Most decorated Olympic athletes live a more lavish lifestyle than staying in small college dorms eating cafeteria food. Not freshman Amanda Beard, the holder of a gold and two silver medals from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

"It's really weird, I feel young age-wise and stuff, but I feel old in the sport," Beard said of her Olympic success. "The whole thing feels like a dream ... when I think back about it, it is fuzzy."

Her success has not been so easy in recent years as Beard experienced a drop off in her swimming performance after the Olympics.

Beard seems to have made the correct choice in becoming a Wildcat, though.

"I went to a couple of recruiting trips, and I just felt really comfortable here," Beard said.

UA head coach Frank Busch agreed.

"She has made an adjustment and she's had to make an adjustment because she came from a program that didn't train like this," Busch said. "As far as what she's brought, she's brought a very positive personality and seems to be very receptive to changes and new ideas."

The changes have paid dividends for Beard, as she has posted an undefeated record so far this season in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes and in the breaststroke leg of the 400 individual medley.

In addition to her perfect mark, Beard broke the 200-yard breaststroke record last week against USC and then broke her own record the next day against UCLA with a time of 2:13:21.

"She is doing very well, she is very talented," Busch said. "Her training has been very good and very consistent, and I think because of that she is reaping some of the benefits of her consistency."

As the season progresses though, Beard expects the competition level to increase all the way until the NCAA Championships.

"We have Texas (Invitational) coming up in about two weeks or so and that's going to be some fun racing," Beard said. "Then in January, we swim against Georgia and they have a really fast breaststroker, so I am anxious to race her."

Even with the lack of competition, Beard hasn't set any individual goals. Her focus is more on helping the team achieve success, which is "basically to kick some butt."

"We beat USC and that was a great accomplishment and we're definitely going to rip it up in Texas," she said. "I think just that everyone is getting all pumped up for the meets coming up."

Even with her success this season and the Olympic medals behind her, Beard says the pressure on her has been minimal.

"Right now I am pretty kicked back and I think the coaches help me stay that way, they don't pressure me," Beard said. "The team is so much fun, we are too wild."

Beard has also had the added luxury of having older teammates to look up to.

Beard said that no teammate in particular stands out, "I can't just pick one, they are all like my older sisters."

Along with a few of her teammates, Beard is also eyeing the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

"It's hard not to think about it because people ask me all the time, 'What are you doing in 2000?'" Beard said. "A year ago, I wasn't really thinking about it because I was down on my swimming, but now Arizona has really picked it up for me and keeps me going."