Rebecca Soni

Rebecca Soni doesn't flinch in the pool. Not a bit. Out of it? Perhaps the quickest way to get Soni to duck her head and giggle is to pass along high praise or ask her to predict a world record in her next race. "Don't say that," she said, looking genuinely embarrassed. What caused that specific reaction was when one reporter talked about making people think 2:19 was within her reach in the 200-meter breaststroke, which, of course, would be a world record. It certainly seems within reason the way the 23-year-old Soni is swimming at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine.

From wavering confidence a couple of weeks ago to a dazzling four gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships. But that's not the complete journey Jessica Hardy of Long Beach was talking about Saturday night in Irvine. "It's really, really, really, really gratifying," she said. "Being forced to sit for a year and struggling emotionally the past year, I'm really happy to have gotten the confidence and just everything is clicking and I'm loving it. " On a night of bright smiles around the pool, perhaps hers best defined the word incandescent.

Ryan Lochte stood on the podium, bright green sneakers on his feet and glittering gold medal around his neck. It was another reminder that this was his week. Lochte brushed up for the Pan Pacific Championships by dominating a star-studded field in the 200-meter backstroke at the U.S. national championships Saturday in Irvine. "I knew I had to get out fast and hold on for dear life," Lochte said. "Those last 50 yards I could see that everyone was coming and thought, 'This is going to be bad.' " It wasn't.

Rebecca Soni doesn't flinch in the pool. Not a bit. Out of it? Perhaps the quickest way to get Soni to duck her head and giggle is to pass along high praise or ask her to predict a world record in her next race. "Don't say that," she said, looking genuinely embarrassed. What caused that specific reaction was when one reporter talked about making people think 2:19 was within her reach in the 200-meter breaststroke, which, of course, would be a world record. It certainly seems within reason the way the 23-year-old Soni is swimming at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine.

Whether it's a pool in Omaha or Charlotte, N.C., or closer to home on the campus of USC, the concept is still the same for those swimmers with Olympic experience or those looking to make their first U.S. squad. Call it a final dress rehearsal. This weekend, there will be three significant swim meets around the country serving the dual purpose of fine-tuning and experimentation set against the backdrop of the U.S. Olympic swim trials, which start in Omaha on June 29. Most prominently will be a test event in Omaha, the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational, at the Qwest Center.

Down goes Phelps. It was bound to happen some day to Michael Phelps. But not this way and not in this race and certainly not at the hands of a relatively anonymous German swimmer with an exceedingly modest resume. Paul Biedermann shed his anonymity only days ago when he broke a vaunted world record in the 400-meter freestyle. On Tuesday, he shed Phelps, handing the swim icon his first loss in about four years in an individual event at a major international meet.

From wavering confidence a couple of weeks ago to a dazzling four gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships. But that's not the complete journey Jessica Hardy of Long Beach was talking about Saturday night in Irvine. "It's really, really, really, really gratifying," she said. "Being forced to sit for a year and struggling emotionally the past year, I'm really happy to have gotten the confidence and just everything is clicking and I'm loving it. " On a night of bright smiles around the pool, perhaps hers best defined the word incandescent.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Let's be clear: Brendan Hansen has a history with the venerable (read: aging) Indiana University Natatorium. He didn't like it in 2000 when he missed making the U.S. Olympic team, finishing in third place in the two breaststroke races. Seven years did not alter the feelings of the world-record holder. On Tuesday night, Hansen called it the "House of Doom." This was after Hansen won the 200-meter breaststroke at the USA Swimming National Championships in 2 minutes 9.91 seconds.

For Britta Steffen of Germany, the first report in April from Sydney was one part alarming and one part ominous. Not only did someone swim faster than her world-record time of 53.30 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, but her Australian rival Libby Lenton became the first woman to drop under 53 seconds, going 52.99. Additional news helped clarify the result from the Duel in the Pool in Sydney between the United States and Australia.

Swimmer Jessica Hardy, who qualified for the Olympics in multiple events, has allegedly tested positive for a banned substance, according to reports. NBCOlympics.com said that both her A and B samples have come back positive and that the substance was believed to be a stimulant. She was tested at the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha last month, and a penalty for a doping offense can result in a two-year ban.

Ryan Lochte stood on the podium, bright green sneakers on his feet and glittering gold medal around his neck. It was another reminder that this was his week. Lochte brushed up for the Pan Pacific Championships by dominating a star-studded field in the 200-meter backstroke at the U.S. national championships Saturday in Irvine. "I knew I had to get out fast and hold on for dear life," Lochte said. "Those last 50 yards I could see that everyone was coming and thought, 'This is going to be bad.' " It wasn't.

Down goes Phelps. It was bound to happen some day to Michael Phelps. But not this way and not in this race and certainly not at the hands of a relatively anonymous German swimmer with an exceedingly modest resume. Paul Biedermann shed his anonymity only days ago when he broke a vaunted world record in the 400-meter freestyle. On Tuesday, he shed Phelps, handing the swim icon his first loss in about four years in an individual event at a major international meet.

Whether it's a pool in Omaha or Charlotte, N.C., or closer to home on the campus of USC, the concept is still the same for those swimmers with Olympic experience or those looking to make their first U.S. squad. Call it a final dress rehearsal. This weekend, there will be three significant swim meets around the country serving the dual purpose of fine-tuning and experimentation set against the backdrop of the U.S. Olympic swim trials, which start in Omaha on June 29. Most prominently will be a test event in Omaha, the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational, at the Qwest Center.

He owned the 100-meter butterfly, at least on Sunday at the Janet Evans Invitational, but Ben Wildman-Tobriner wasn't quite sure about possession of the most important test of his life, which was Friday in San Jose. The MCATs. That would be the Medical College Admission Test. It only seemed to last an eternity -- five hours -- and it will take about a month to get his results. Yes, another lifetime for the recent Stanford graduate. "It was hard.