Hayley McGregory, considered by many to be the best American swimmer not included on the Olympic team roster, has been training with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club for the past three weeks. She has her mind set on the World Championships in Rome this summer, and hopes to be a major contender for the 2012 Olympic team. With funding from the United States Olympic Committee, the North Baltimore Aquatic Club is receiving some high-profile attention.

American Statesman staff writer John Maher reports:

“Phelps and his coach, Bob Bowman, recently formed a business partnership to run the club they helped to make famous. Their plans include creating a training site for about one dozen professional, post-collegiate swimmers.”

“In December, the club received a $100,000 grant from the United States Olympic Committee to help toward that goal. In addition to Phelps and Katie Hoff, another Olympian and North Baltimore star, Bowman has added McGregory and Nick Thoman to North Baltimore’s stable of swimmers.”

Unfortunate for McGregory, her best swim in the last Olympic Trials was in a preliminary heat of the 100m Backstroke. She won the heat in world record time, only to have her record taken back in the very next heat by its previous owner Natalie Coughlin.

Hayley McGregory reacts after setting a new world record in the preliminaries of
the 100 meter backstroke during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on June 30, 2008
Photo by GettyImages.

Hayley McGregory hangs on the lane line after finishing third in the final of the
100 meter backstroke during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials on July 1, 2008
Photo by GettyImages.

>>View full story by John Maher of the American Statesman.