Young And Naive U.S. Could Make A Splash American Swimmers Hope For A Home-Pool Advantage

American swimmers are favored in few races, lack Olympic experience and must contend with the heat of Atlanta and the hopes of the home crowd.

Yet all of that may help in what looms as a wide-open medals chase in which the United States is unlikely to match the 11 swimming gold medals it won four years ago in Barcelona.

“If we can do that, we’ll have had a fabulous Olympics,” U.S. women’s assistant coach Mark Schubert said.

That’s where friendly fans can provide an edge in a close competition.

“I think it will make a big difference,” backstroker Jeff Rouse said.

“Generally, the Spanish athletes in 1992 did exceptionally well, probably because they had the home-field crowd.”

Those Americans who did compete in Barcelona - only nine of the 44 on this year’s squad - might not mind the Atlanta climate after enduring oppressive heat in the Spanish city where their rooms, without air conditioning, resembled steambaths.

“We’ve talked about the weather a lot with our swimmers. The hot, humid weather helps swimmers because it keeps them loose,” Schubert said.

But what about the experience factor and the youth of a women’s team that has three 14-year-olds? That may not hurt either.

“Some of the young people on the team are fearless. They have no clue what’s going on,” U.S. men’s assistant coach Jon Urbanchek said. “They’re so naive, they just go out and do it and don’t build up any anxieties.”

The shortage of favorites means Americans have just as good a shot at medals as their opponents in many races.