What Went Wrong for Katie Hoff

Michael Phelps has taken all the headlines from the Water Cube at these Olympic Games.

Katie Hoff could have taken some off that spotlight away from the all-time Olympic champ. Hoff swam in the same number of individual events as Phelps did (or will) at these Games. She was also in one relay. That gave her six chances for gold medals, which would have tied the record for any woman at any single Olympiad.

But Hoff will leave Beijing with no gold, just one silver and two bronze medals, after failing to qualify for the 800m today.

What went wrong? Hoff was hyped as being Phelps' counterpart in the pool for the United States women's side. Hyped up after an impressive performance at the U.S. Trials a few months ago.

And then maybe the hype got to her. Some say that it hasn't, as that L.A. Times story I link to says. Some say that it's unfair to link Hoff, who trained at the same Baltimore swimming club as Phelps did, to Phelps.

But when there are flashes of greatness and just one connection to probably the greatest swimmer of all-time, the hype will come. Simply, Hoff didn't live up to it. Where was the girl who won three gold medals at the 2007 FINA World Championships? Where was the girl who dominated the U.S. Trials? Where was she?

Not in Beijing. The best effort I saw from her was when she led the U.S. back to claim bronze in the 800m freestyle relay.

And maybe it did get into the 19-year-old's head: trying to become the best ever.

And then maybe she was just too tired. Six events is a lot for a swimmer not named Phelps.

But she is just 19. She will probably be in London four years from now and she'll probably be more motivated than ever.

And maybe then, she can live up to the hype. Or maybe, the hype won't follow her when London calls.