Amanda Beard: Olympic Dream Still Afloat with Her Best Event Up Next

Despite missing out on the Olympic team in her first event at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, Amanda Beard is still in a solid position to make her fifth Olympic squad. 

Beard entered the trials set to compete in two events: the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. The 100 came first for Beard, and it did not offer a lot of hope for her chances to make the trip to London. 

She failed to even qualify for the finals. Beard had the tenth best time in the semi's at 1:07:92, and it would be easy to write her off after that finish—although it would be foolish to do so. 

Beard tweeted all the reasons we need to keep hope alive that the seven-time medalist can qualify: 

"

Thanks for all the kind words. Happy with my time but not with my place. Extra day off to relax before my fave race the 200!!!!

— Amanda Beard (@AmandaRayBeard) June 27, 2012"

So Beard is now down to one chance to accomplish the amazing feat of making her fifth Olympic team, but it is her best chance. It is also only fitting that the 30-year-old would be attempting to make her last stand in this event. 

Beard won the gold in the event at the 2004 Greece Games, and that was after she set the world record while qualifying for the team, and she took the bronze in the 200 breaststroke at the Olympics preceding those. 

This is clearly her favorite event for a good reason. 

At age 30, and a mother of one, Beard is not supposed to be competing for Olympic glory. This is a young woman's sport, and typically one that features competitors that aren't balancing training and motherhood, but Beard certainly is not going to be limited by what is supposed to happen. 

That much was clear in Atlanta, during 1996 Olympics, when she graced the medal podium three times as a 14-year-old. 

However, even if Beard does earn her trip to London, the chances of her making one last trip to the medal stand are remote, but that doesn't mean anyone should count this amazing champion out just yet.