With the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing only a month away, the qualifying trials for the Olympic teams have begun. Most of the attention has been on the U.S. men's basketball team or the track and field athletes who will don the red, white and blue to represent their country. But in Omaha, Neb., the focus is on swimming.

In an arena that housed the NCAA men's basketball championships just a few years ago, more than 900 of the nation's best swimmers are competing for the right to represent the USA in mainland China.

Included in the field are numerous student athletes. BYU graduate Nick Tobler and student Candice Smith are among those athletes. But Tobler and Smith compete under the banner of Hilltop Aquatics in American Fork, coached by Dee Loose.

"Nick and Candice are my third and fourth Olympic trial qualifiers, and my first ones as a head coach," Loose said. "It's a great honor to be with these two."

Smith graduated in June from American Fork High School after a distinguished prep career. A two-time Utah state champion in the 100-meter backstroke, Smith was selected as the 5A swimmer of the year. In her final meet in Utah last February, Smith missed breaking the record in her event by .01 seconds.

"Going into [the 2007-08] season, I realized it was my senior year and I just wanted to have fun," Smith said. "I just tried to swim my best at every meet. The end of the year was a shocker; I wasn't expecting that. So it was a huge honor, and I was really flattered by it."

Despite the awards, Smith's coaches and teammates claim the 200-meter backstroke is her specialty. During the past year, she recorded a time in the 200-meter of 2 minutes, 17.79 seconds. The qualifying time for the Olympic trial is 2:17.99.

Smith competes in the trial for the 200-meter backstroke on July 4.

"It's kind of a stressful atmosphere here [in Omaha, Neb.]," Smith said, "because people know why they are here and they all want to do well. Everybody is so well prepared. But it's cool to be able to meet all the Olympians and famous swimmers.

"While you're here, it's not like a high school dual meet, where everybody is pushing for everybody else."

Smith will begin her freshmen year as a Cougar swimmer in the fall.

"I'm just ready to do my best for the Cougars," Smith said. "I had a chance to go out of state, even as far as Florida, but I went there and felt that BYU was right for me."

On the other side of student life, Tobler graduated in April from the Marriott School with a degree in accounting. He lives with his wife, Jen, in Springville, but the two will make the trek north to Boise in a few weeks, where Tobler will begin his career with a job at Deloitte & Touche in the fall.

Even though Tobler graduated at the top of his class and a time in the 200-meter breast stroke good enough for the qualifier, Loose said Tobler is not a man who seeks the spotlight.

"He's a great young man," Loose said. "He doesn't brag, but he just goes about doing his work, which is a great example to the other [swimmers]. He is helpful in every way. We'll miss Nick a great deal when he moves to Boise."

Loose said one of the best things about competing at the Olympic trial is the chance these young athletes have to stand next to some of the sports' greatest.

"I look forward to seeing them rub shoulders with some of the best in the world," Loose said. "With young men like Michael Phelps and young ladies like Katie Hawes - getting any chance to learn from them is great."

And the learning experience doesn't stop with the athletes. Loose said most swimming coaches are extremely willing to share their "tricks of the trade" with younger coaches.

"Football coaches don't like to share their secrets," Loose said, "but I learn from every swim coach I come into contact with."

Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Jul 2008