For freshman swimmer Karen Campbell, an experience dreams are made of became more of a nightmare. In March, Campbell went to the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials at the Indianapolis Natatorium to compete in a meet that might have been one of the most important of her life. With high hopes and months of training behind her, Campbell entered two events the 100-meter butterfly and the 50-meter freestyle—trying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. But despite her conditioning, Campbell finished 28th of the 32 butterfly competitors and last in the freestyle. In
both races, her times were far behind her personal bests. "It felt strange. It was like I'd forgotten how to swim," Campbell said. "It was like I was just going through the motions. I had no speed—no way to swim the race I usually swim. It was very disappointing and upsetting to swim so poorly." In the 100-meter butterfly, Campbell was considered a strong candidate for making the team for Atlanta. She won the 1995 Spring Senior Nationals and was ninth in the 1995 World Rankings. Her seeded time for the Trials, 1:00.50, was continued
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