US Swimmer Natalie Coughlin started her 2008 Olympics with another gold medal performance (she had two in Athens), winning the 100m Backstroke race and making her the first woman to win back to back Olympic titles in the same event. She followed that up with a bronze in the 200m IM, and will swim the 100m Freestyle next (she is the fastest qualifier so far). If things go as planned, Natalie will also swim the 4x 100m Freestyle relay, the 4x 200m Freestyle relay and the 4x 100 IM relay - making 6 events and 6 chances to medal.

So how does this amazing athlete do it? Natalie’s training includes (from Fitness Magazine):

Two hours in the pool twice a day, running with her dog for 45 minutes to an hour every day, and lifting weights two or three times a week. Natalie also does Pilates every day and sees a private instructor two times a week.

Natalie has also learned that balance is the key to happiness and success in and out of the pool. Like many extraordinarily talented athletes, Natalie learned that lesson the hard way - via injury, illness, and burnout. Her book,Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom, and Became America’s Olympic Champion is an interesting look into the world of competitive swimming and the path she took to the top and how she ultimately found balance.

I’m looking forward to watching her final races this week! My daughter has taken great interest in Natalie’s swims too - because they share a name, have the same long curly honey blond hair, and my daughter swam competitively for the first time this summer and LOVED it.  Go Natalie!