US Olympic Swimming Team 2012: Allison Schmitt Looks Poised for 200 Free Gold

Some heavy expectations were thrust on Allison Schmitt at the 2012 Olympic Games. She won the 200- and 400-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials.

Turning in a personal best to take silver in the 400-meter finals was a gutsy, impressive performance for the 22-year-old American star.

She had a solid run in her preliminary heat, coming in just .02 seconds behind Camille Muffat of France. They swam from lanes five and four, respectively, posting the two best times out of the five heats.

Schmitt used solid turns and great pacing to stick with Muffat over the first 300 meters.

The two had a full length on the field when they headed into the final 100 meters, but Schmitt was just behind Muffat. Schmitt attempted to close over the last 20 meters, but came up just short of the gold medal.

Coming into the Games, the only individual freestyle event where the U.S. seemed guaranteed to medal was the 200. It is Schmitt's best event and she broke her own American record at the time trials.

I did not have her reaching the podium in the 400-meter due to stiff competition at this distance.

However, she shaved over a second off her time from the U.S. trials, demonstrating she likes this pool and is mentally prepared to compete.

This race bodes well for Schmitt in the 200-meter free where she and Moffat have been the favorites to battle for gold. They hold the two best times in 2012 at that distance, with Schmitt holding a quarter-second edge.

Beating the favored Rebecca Adlington on her home turf will provide an excellent boost to Schmitt's confidence and prepare her to set yet another personal best, this time in the 200 final. 

Her American record 1:54.40 is ahead of Olympic-record pace. Italy's Federica Pellegrini set that mark in Beijing with 1:54.82. 

Schmitt is primed to beat Muffatt and set a new Olympic record in the process.