Rick Say isn't satisfied anymore with breaking Canadian records and making Olympic teams. Say showed his intentions are much higher at the Olympic trials. They are lofty goals in arguably swimming's toughest event, the men's 200 freestyle.
At the trials, Say smashed his Canadian record clocking 1:47.16. At the time it was the fifth fastest time in the world. The only problem is that in the world rankings, those ahead of him include superstars Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett of Australia, Michael Phelps of the U.S. and reigning Olympic champion Pieter Vande Hoogenband of the Netherlands. Thorpe's number-one time this year is at 1:45.07.
"Actually I have mixed feelings about the swim at trials," said Say, seventh in the event at the 2000 Games. "My goal was to go 1:46.80, so that was my mindset. I know have a lot more in me."
Say only started racing seriously at age 18 at the University of Victoria but he was a gifted athlete and made the transition very easily. By 1998 he was on the Commonwealth Games team and in 2000 he broke the 20-year-old 400 freestyle Canadian record.
