The latest in the line of swimmers considering comebacks is 31-year old American Brooke Bennett.
The alarms in my head started going off late last night when Bennett tweeted that the “#USADA owns my life…lol!”
Then this morning, this article was posted about Bennett getting back into Masters Swimming and supporting the Swim Across American program.
The latest USADA results have not been released yet, but we’ve been able to confirm that Bennett is back in the testing pool. This means that once her mandatory 9-month wait is up, she would become eligible to compete in major US competition once again, and she would be much younger than the other two major American comebacks of late – Janet Evans and Dara Torres.
She’s training with Randy Reese at the Clearwater Aquatic Team in Florida, and anyone who knows Reese’s training knows that you don’t do his workouts just to dabble in open water races.
This would be a huge story, as Bennett is, in my opinion, one of the most likable swimmers of her generation. The 31-year old is a three-time Olympic Champion, including a 400-800 double in Sydney.Before we get too excited, though, a sanity-check is needed.
First, Bennett’s 9-month window would not be up in time for her to compete and try to qualify for this year’s Olympic Team. Besides that, Bennett has a burgeoning career in sports broadcasting, and those who have worked with her have raved about her consumate professionalism and see her as a bright star in the future.
In fact, the great Summer Sanders, herself an Olympic Champion-turned sports journalist – has said that she’s a huge fan of Bennett the broadcaster.
So for now, let’s consider her re-entry into the drug-testing pool as a pun-able testing of the waters. If she can’t balance her dryland career with her training, then my feeling is that the comeback isn’t going to happen. It’s still something to be excited about.
Great news!
Comebacks always seem to be at a strange time: Torres Sydney comeback was short: I thought she wouldn’t be able to make the team: little did I know she was going to go on to win several medals and swim the fastest relay leg ever (53.3).
Evans’, Thope’s and Klim’s comebacks seem to be too late..
Libby hardly ever retired, and still she is struggling..
Funny how it is different for everyone.
In response to your comment Sarah, I definitely think that comebacks were not as big four years ago. I guess things like sponsorships are making them a possibility as swimmers get older.
Also, is it just me or is this comeback at a strange time? Nevertheless, huge fan of Brooke Bennett!
I had the opportunity to train w/ Randy Reese in Jacksonville when I was 32-33 years old, and I actually recorded better 200 Fly times than I did as a college swimmer at Virginia Tech. He’s a great motivator and a stern task master, although, often misunderstood because his methods are unconventional. I’ve watched him ramp up programs at several locations, and the results always speak for themselves. Good luck, Brooke.
Very exciting! Was there this same upsurge in comebacks 4 years ago before the last Olympics? I can’t remember. Or is there something special about right now in swimming?
Very cool. Even if she just sticks with Masters Swimming that would be great; but, why would someone submit to the USADA protocol/invasion if nothing “bigger” was envisioned?