Hello from Council Bluffs, Iowa! Just checked into my hotel here on an award stay for the next 9 nights. I have a two room suite with a view of the Missouri River below the windows. There are two casinos nearby.
The hotel shuttle picked me up at the Omaha Airport and could come in handy during the week as I'm 3 miles from the pool at the Century Link Center in Omaha. There is a trail along the river and a pedestrian bridge that comes out near the pool, so if the weather cooperates hope to rack up some miles on foot, too. It was 90 degrees on arrival at the airport.
Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, holder of 11 Olympic medals, adorns the parking structure at the Omaha Airport:
I left my car at the Coughlins house on Saturday night and took BART into SFO. Redeemed an award night at the Hyatt so I wouldn't have too much hassle getting the 0715 flight out to DFW. I have known Natalie's parents for well over 30 years and her father and I are both retired from the same Bay Area police department (someone always asks).
Arrived at the airport at 6am this morning and opted out of the TSA body screening equipment. They were pretty busy and I had to wait about 15 mins. There was one person ahead of me who also opted out. I got the trainee so even the pat down took longer than normal. He kept tugging on my cargo shorts and for a moment I thought they were going to drop to my ankles, but they did not (remember no belts allowed).
Off to the Admirals Club to find AA has not cleared any upgrades for my connecting DFW-Omaha flight, even though 8 seats were open. My flight SFO-DFW had cleared a couple days ago. I'm used to 2-4 seats being held for departure, but 8 is brand new for me--that's half the cabin. I cleared at the gate at DFW and was #1 on the list of 8 that cleared.
Had a cheese omelette and a bagel/cut fruit on the first flight (3 hours). The second flight was just 85 mins long so no meal was offered. Both flights departed on time.
Hard to believe this is the 4th time in the last 12 years (2000 to Indianapolis, 2004 to Long Beach, 2008 to Omaha), that I've been to Olympic Trials with the Coughlins. I'll catch up with them later tonight for dinner in Omaha (they're staying on the Omaha side). We have 8 days of swimming ahead and we're all expecting Natalie to do well. Here's a link to an article in the Omaha paper about her:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20120620/SWIMTRIALS/706209819/1001
Trials will be televised daily in the U.S. on the NBC Sports Network (used to be OLN and then VERSUS and now NBCS). On Uverse it's channel 1640 in HD and if you have something else you'll need to search for it. Regular NBC does have some coverage next weekend during prime time but won't be covering it every night. This event runs Monday, June 25, through Monday, July 2. Finals are in the evening.
I'll be posting updates on Natalie throughout the week.
KeepDiscovering
Jun 24, 12, 5:03 pm
look forward to the report as the trip progress
magiciansampras
Jun 24, 12, 5:41 pm
Very cool. I remember when you did this before. Thanks for the hard work. ^
airswim
Jun 24, 12, 5:47 pm
Very much looking forward to this...flyertalk newbie, so will be a first for me.
eightblack
Jun 24, 12, 5:58 pm
Tom,
Excellent report. I used to live in OMA and my son was born there so I have very fond memories of the place. I visit friends there at least twice a year.
I'm sure you have many dinner recommendations, but Charlestons is a great place (always packed) and if you want to head out west for the best prime rib you will ever eat, go to Farmer Browns.
Wishing the Coughlins luck for you...:)
Keep up the good work.
You want to go where?
Jun 24, 12, 6:40 pm
Tom, great that you are there following Natalie's progress.
I, too will be virtually following the results of a friend's daughter at the trials,although she is not a well-known swimmer like Natalie.
Unfortunately, I have to be half a planet away at the moment.
I hope that all the swimmers have a great meet, making personal bests, and let the best swimmer win!
wrp96
Jun 24, 12, 7:48 pm
Looking forward to more. Best of luck to Natalie.
tom911
Jun 24, 12, 9:13 pm
Very cool. I remember when you did this before. Thanks for the hard work. ^
Thanks. :) Really do enjoy being able to share as these are the type of events many will just never be able to attend.
A couple of my old trip reports are still available for those that are new to FT or just the Olympic experience in general. Some of these have embedded photos and I have a full gallery for each trip linked next to them.
From 2011: tom911 goes to Shanghai (World Swimming Championships) - Cathay Business - w/photos (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1239242-tom911-goes-shanghai-world-swimming-championships-cathay-business-w-photos.html)
From 2008: tom911 goes to the 2008 Olympic Games (includes swimming updates on Natalie Coughlin) (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/852472-tom911-goes-2008-olympic-games-includes-swimming-updates-natalie-coughlin.html)
From 2008: AA to USA Olympic Trials (Swimming), Omaha, Nebraska w/photos (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/839485-aa-usa-olympic-trials-swimming-omaha-nebraska-w-photos.html)
From 2004: AA/IB to the 2004 Olympic Games (with swimming updates on Natalie) (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/345148-aa-ib-2004-olympic-games-swimming-updates-natalie-2.html)
T
I'm sure you have many dinner recommendations, but Charlestons is a great place (always packed) and if you want to head out west for the best prime rib you will ever eat, go to Farmer Browns.
We started at the Mattress Factory tonight, within view of the stadium where the College World Series was underway (Arizona vs South Carolina), and had three different dishes (bbq pork sandwich, beef brisket sandwich for me, hamburger). Food was just OK and didn't really jump off the plate with flavor, so don't think we'll be going back there, plus the TVs were up way too loud to carry on a conversation. We all recalled having a great time here on a couple visits in 2008, but just didn't stand out this time, even after a Sam Adams. I did the 50 min walk over from Council Bluffs and I was covered in so much sweat you would have thought I had just finished a marathon (must be some humidity here to go with the heat as I regularly walk this distance at home in the same temperature and barely break a sweat).
We're all on foot this trip because the rental car 4 years ago ended up sitting most of the week, so we're going to mostly be in the Old Marketplace area where we did a lot of our meals four years ago. We did go to whatever the steak house is that Warren Buffet goes to last trip and enjoyed it, but it's ways out from downtown. We also visited the zoo.
tom911
Jun 24, 12, 10:10 pm
Front doors of the Century Link Stadium (the pool has been constructed inside):
Just wanted to say that your reports here was the reason why I signed up for a handle here on FT.
Can't wait to see your reports from this year. I bet I enjoy them as much as I did in 2008.
Safe travels
econometrics
Jun 25, 12, 4:24 pm
Tom,
Looking forward to reading along here! My old high school swim coach is in Omaha posting updates to her Facebook, so I'm interested to see things from your perspective as well!
Have fun, and thanks in advance! ^
tom911
Jun 25, 12, 11:22 pm
Day 1 Recap
It's after midnight Monday so this is going to be short.
Very busy day today. Got the hotel shuttle over to the pool just after 0930 and met up with the Coughlins. Natalie was competing in prelims of 100 butterfly, an event she was not able to swim in Athens or Beijing because of the timing of the event (clashed with her other events). The schedule for London is slightly different allowing her to swim this. There were 170+ swimmers in prelims and Natalie placed 4th, good enough to come back to semifinals tonight (top 16).
After swimming we stopped in the exhibit hall and saw Natalie featured throughout the Speedo store as well as a display with BMW, another sponsor. Here I am with Natalie on both sides:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/i-zm6rbtK/0/M/P1320601-M.jpg
Lunch was in the Omaha Marketplace at Twisted Fork. I had a buttermilk chicken salad.
Walked back to my hotel across the Missouri River with a slight breeze (high today 87F). 82% humidity when I woke up this morning. 100F is forecast for Wednesday.
Only time for an hour break and then back to the pool. Watched Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps compete in the 400IM, and Lochte won it. Both go to London as the top two swimmers are selected. Later in the evening a quick visit with Michael's mother and one sister who were seated near us. I was seated next to swimmer Katie Hoff's mother who I met in Beijing.
Natalie swam in the first of two heats in the semifinals of 100 butterfly and placed first in her heat. In the second heat her Cal team mate Dana Vollmer set a new American record, and there were some other fast swimmers. Natalie placed 4th overall and that's good enough to get her into finals for this event on Tuesday night.
Dinner was at Upstream Brewing Company in the Omaha Marketplace. I had pot roast and other choices at our table were fish and chips, shrimp and grits, and lamb kebob. Due to the College World Series finishing tonight my hotel shuttle was delayed and I didn't get picked up until 2330, almost 45 mins from the time I first called. Lots of traffic for them to deal with.
That's it for tonight. Just don't have time to get the evening photos up but hope to do that during the day tomorrow. I do have some exhibit hall photos and morning swimming photos and they start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/23765787_7xj652#!i=1924998060&k=tR3jdwd
tom911
Jun 26, 12, 7:16 am
The photos from Monday night (Day 1) are up now. Those photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/23765787_7xj652#!i=1928640140&k=7GTcN4S
Ryan Lochte (blue cap) and Michael Phelps (to his right) leave the starting blocks for finals 400IM:
Today (Tuesday, start of Day 2), Natalie starts with prelims in 100 backstroke, the event she won the Gold Medal in at both Athens and Beijing.
N830MH
Jun 26, 12, 9:48 am
Enjoy reading your report. Keep it coming!
I agree as well. He did excellent trip report and I'm glad that he have a great trip to OMA to watch Olympics trials. Surely, I hope the team who will win the game.
tom911
Jun 27, 12, 8:40 am
Challenging day at the pool on Tuesday. Natalie started off in prelims of 100 backstroke and placed 5th, fast enough to get her into semifinals later Tuesday night (top 16 swimmers). We came back Tuesday night and first watched her compete in finals of 100 butterfly, the opening event and a new one for her in Olympic Trials, where she placed 7th (her Cal team mate, Dana Vollmer, set an American record in this event, placing first and swimming the fastest time of the year in the world).
Natalie came back an hour later and competed in semifinals of 100 backstroke and placed 7th among 16 swimmers, good enough to take her to finals on Wednesday night. This is the event she holds the Olympic Gold Medals from both Athens and Beijing, and there are some very fast, new competitors on the scene. We're all hoping she does well Wednesday night.
Entering the pool for 100 backstroke semifinal heat:
Lunch was back at Upstream Brewery. I had the chicken fried chicken. Although we weren't there until 2pm, the restaurant filled up after our arrival and the kitchen could not keep up with the orders. We waited a good hour from the time we sat down until our food arrived. We visited and enjoyed some wine after swimming in the evening, and I grabbed a hot dog at the casino near by hotel before turning in.
We did meet the male U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist from the 100 backstroke at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Adolph Kiefer, on Tuesday afternoon. He's 94 years old now and will award the medals for the women's 100 backstroke on Wednesday night.
Back to the pool Wednesday night for finals in 100 backstroke. Good luck, Natalie!
Pool lobby:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/i-2pCxQw8/0/M/P1320723-M.jpg
New photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/23765787_7xj652#!i=1930943790&k=sdgf66m
qbrain
Jun 27, 12, 10:47 am
Hey Tom,
Thanks for writing this trip report. My wife and I are both still competitive swimmers (at the old people level) so it was a thrill to come across this on FT of all places.
I am a big Natalie fan and I hope she does well tonight. It looks like it might take going under the American Record to make the team this year.
tom911
Jun 27, 12, 11:26 pm
Hello late this Wednesday night approaching 0030. Just 5 hours ago Natalie swam in the finals of the 100 backstroke and although in the lead for the first ¾ of the race, she was not able to maintain that lead towards the very end and two swimmers passed her and got to the wall first. The first place finisher was Missy Franklin, 17, of Colorado, who set a new American record in the event, and will be attending her first Olympics in London this summer. She's been having a very good year. The second place finisher was an 18 year old.
Natalie congratulating Missy Franklin, on left, for placing first and setting a new American record:
I slept in this morning and started my day with the buffet luncheon at the Ameristar Casino ($11.99—well worth it with a decent salad bar and tri-tip as my main courses), and later met up with the Coughlins in the afternoon at their downtown Omaha hotel. They went to lunch at M's Pub and I came along and just had a beer (Blue Paddle Pilsner). I hung around downtown in the 102F/37C weather to take some photos and pop into a candy store which had Swedish fish, just about my favorite candy these days, but the walkabout didn't last long in the heat. Ended up at the Coughlins hotel at 1730 and we all walked over to the pool for finals at 1815.
Dinner after swimming was at Stokes restaurant in the marketplace. Everyone had Mexican plates except me. I had a salad wedge with blue cheese and a large bowl of corn chowder soup. Made it over there via shuttle and got through the front doors before the swimming crowds could walk over (there were 12,000 fans last night).
Thursday is a day off for Natalie. We're planning a morning visit to the zoo and hoping we don't melt if this heat keeps up. Natalie does have one more event later this week.
New photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/23765787_7xj652#!i=1932414450&k=6BBk6HQ
N830MH
Jun 27, 12, 11:35 pm
Wow! I'm so happy to hear for her. She going to Olympics London. She will very extremely happy. She have 1 more event before she heading to London. Looking forward to it.
tom911
Jun 27, 12, 11:45 pm
She going to Olympics London.
Only the first and second place finishers in 100 backstroke go to the Olympics.
tom911
Jun 27, 12, 11:49 pm
It looks like it might take going under the American Record to make the team this year.
That's exactly what happened with first place tonight, and the second place finisher was under a minute. Natalie, IIRC, was the first swimmer in the world to break the one minute barrier a number of years back, and had that world record for a few years. She just could not get under a minute tonight. I need to get to bed or I'd go research the dates and post them.
tom911
Jun 27, 12, 11:53 pm
Let me also add that if Ricky Beren's aunt is reading (can't recall her FT name right now), I did get some photos of him as he placed third tonight in a freestyle event with Phelps and Lochte . He qualifies to go to London as part of a relay team where extra swimmers are needed. I'll post the photos if you'll let me know you're here.
Paella747
Jun 28, 12, 5:20 am
Love reading your report again! :D^ My two swimmers still talk about our afternoon out in Shanghai last summer! That fantastic Jin Mao hotel view and the pretty-okay Thai food!
Bummed about Nat's 100back..... I was excited to see her defend. But I think she'll have a great 100 free!
Have a safe trip, and make your way to Seoul sometime soon! Perhaps you'll be in BCN next summer? ;) Up for some paella?
Paella747
Jun 28, 12, 5:26 am
Natalie, IIRC, was the first swimmer in the world to break the one minute barrier a number of years back, and had that world record for a few years.
True that. I believe it was 2002. Ft. Lauderdale? I have the race somewhere on video. It was an outdoor pool and if I recall correctly they had to close the pool for awhile. After her race, Nat made a comment about hoping she didn't get hit by lightning during the race. :D:D:D She had the world record for a looooong time after that. Class act. ^
tom911
Jun 28, 12, 7:00 am
Up for some paella?
Wouldn't mind a trip to Spain for some, though might be a challenge to find that dish here in Omaha :) Just read a number of news stories and the one that impressed me the most referred to "the passing of the torch" to America's new superstar in swimming. There's a lot riding on Missy Franklin's shoulders. The second place finisher, Rachel Bootsma, has committed to college at Cal, where Natalie still trains (and wears the Cal cap), this fall.
tom911
Jun 29, 12, 11:57 pm
Coming up on 1a.m. Late Friday night. Just back at my hotel after a Speedo reception at the TD Ameritrade Stadium, the venue where the College World Series was held last weekend. Great view down over home plate from our suite.
First, Natalie has made it to the 100 freestyle finals which will be broadcast on NBC in primetime on Saturday night. Of the 8 swimmers in finals, the top six will go to London because of additional swimmers needed in the 4X100 freestyle relay event. The top two swimmers also compete in the individual 100 freestyle event in London. We're all hoping Natalie makes the team on Saturday night!
She placed 9th in preliminaries on Friday morning which was good enough to come back for semifinals on Friday night (top 16), and in the semifinal event tonight she placed #7 (top 8 go to finals).
Natalie entering the pool for her semifinal heat (second from bottom):
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/i-hgW7dJt/0/M/P1330006-M.jpg
Thursday we visited the Omaha Zoo but only lasted about 2 hours in the heat. Some of their exhibits are air conditioned which made it tolerable for that long. Those photos probably won't be added to my web site until I'm home-- just no time to get to them and sort through them right now. Lunch was at M's Pub. I had a reuben sandwich.
Thursday night dinner was at Upstream Brewery. I had a salad and macaroni and cheese.
Friday lunch was at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, about 2 miles from where I'm staying. We got the shuttle there from the Coughlins hotel and went to the lunch buffet. All you can eat shrimp and pecan pie was my perfect meal. :) It had cooled a little bit that I just walked back to my hotel from there to work off the calories.
tom911
Jun 30, 12, 12:06 am
Forgot to add, new photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/23765787_7xj652#!i=1936105995&k=SFpTj2s
N830MH
Jun 30, 12, 12:13 am
Only the first and second place finishers in 100 backstroke go to the Olympics.
Right, only 1st & 2nd place.
wrp96
Jun 30, 12, 4:53 am
Fingers crossed for Natalie.
tom911
Jun 30, 12, 11:05 pm
Fingers crossed for Natalie.
Seems to have worked as we're all going to London. :)
Just in from dinner at Crave with her sister, parents and grandparents to celebrate. I have award tickets in place from last August on AA as well as hotel nights with Priority Club. Ready to go!
Natalie placed 6th in 100 freestyle which qualifies her to be an alternate on the relay team for 4X100 freestyle relay. Very likely she would swim prelims unless needed to swim finals, but both prelim and final swimmers get Olympic medals and that gives her a shot at Olympic medal #12. Hopefully she'll be the team captain as she has the experience needed to guide younger swimmers going to their first Olympics. 17 year old Missy Franklin has been quoted a number of times this week as to how she could not imagine going to the Olympics without Natalie. See more in the article below:
OMAHA -- It wasn't the way she wanted to make the U.S. Olympic roster by any means, but she'll take it.
Natalie Coughlin is headed to the Olympics for the third time. She'll be a part of the women's 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay team. She earned that spot with her sixth-place finish in Saturday night's 100 free final.
Had she swum 18 hundredths of a second slower and finished seventh, she wouldn't be going to London.
tom911
Jun 30, 12, 11:37 pm
Natalie on the starting blocks 100 freestyle finals in lane #1:
New photos start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/...rials/23765787_7xj652#!i=1937788124&k=PSVgbkb
wrp96
Jul 1, 12, 7:16 pm
Congrats to Natalie on another Olympics.
Question, are the swimming events the first week or the second week of the Olympics?
tom911
Jul 1, 12, 9:25 pm
Swimming is the first week. Natalie will swim on the first day.
wrp96
Jul 1, 12, 9:47 pm
Swimming is the first week. Natalie will swim on the first day.
Well shoot. I'll be out of the country without access to a tv and possibly Internet that first week. I'll still keep my fingers crossed though. ;)
tom911
Jul 2, 12, 1:46 pm
The first of our party of 7 was scheduled to fly out last night, but her Southwest flight to DEN at 7pm took a 3 hour delay, so she spent another night in Omaha rather than overnight in Denver. Today two of our party are due out this afternoon with five more in the morning. As much as we have enjoyed Omaha and Council Bluffs, we're all ready to go home. :) Have to start preparing for our flights to London in 3 weeks!
Breakfast/early lunch this morning was at the Radial Cafe on 40th Street (I had the skillet plate with hash browns, eggs and chicken fried chicken, other had burgers and salads) and dinner last night was at Union Pizzeria near the TD Ameritrade Stadium (spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana and spaghetti, ice cold Fat Tire beer).
Some final photos-
Natalie signing autographs before finals last night:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/i-FphJBzj/0/M/P1330065-M.jpg
Officially on the 2012 US Olympic Team (third from left in both photos- her medal has the aqua ribbon):
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Swimming/2012-Olympic-Swimming-Trials/i-jtLx4QR/0/M/P1330095-M.jpg
Thumbs up for your report, I'll be staying tuned for the third Olympics of reading your dispatches. You have an insider's view that's refreshing and fun. I hope you have a great trip to London.
tom911
Jul 4, 12, 7:39 pm
Not sure I'm going to do an Olympics report this year. I do have access to some tickets but they're way outside what I want to pay, or have paid in the past. With Natalie Coughlin only swimming one event (unlike Beijing where she won 6 medals and Athens where she won 5, swimming almost every day), there's just not going to be much to report on this time around as she'll only be swimming prelims in a relay one day unless things change, and that gives her a shot at her 12th Olympic medal. We're all glad she has made the team and may just do a few days in London before heading north. Still working out details as we have a large group involved, most still needing hotels, and I'm not the decision maker for the travel arrangements.
One thing I have noticed is a significant drop in hotel prices, just like in Beijing where I booked just a few weeks out. This time I have award nights already in place.