Inside the timing suite for the Olympic swimming races. How accurate are those touch pads and clocks?
Swimming
Reality or Strategy? China Plays Down Hopes of Beating the U.S. in Gold-Medal Count
After topping the gold-medal count on home turf in Beijing four years ago, China is loudly lowering expectations of another triumphant performance in London
27 Things You Didn’t Know About the Olympics
As you sit down to watch the opening ceremonies with friends, TIME gives you a crib sheet of little-known Olympics facts– from what’s a Fosbury Flop to who the youngest Olympian ever is– to score you the title of Smartest …
Trained by SEALs
The elite unit preps London-bound Olympians for action
How They Train: Synchronized Swimming with Sean Gregory
TIME reporter Sean Gregory joins the women in the USA Olympic synchronized swimming team to experience just how tough the sport really is
Dara Torres: Oldest Olympic Hopeful at Swim Trials
She’s 45 and trying for her sixth Olympic Games. And she admits it isn’t easy
The Duel in the Pool: Meet Ryan Lochte, the Man Who Beat Michael Phelps (and Wants to Again)
If the drama in the 2008 Olympic pool was all about Michael Phelps, at the London Games it will be focused on the battle between Phelps and teammate Ryan Lochte
He’s Baaack: Inside the Mind of Michael Phelps
He’s already the greatest Olympian of all time. In London he could be come the most decorated one
Q&A With Olympic Swimmer Amanda Beard: Playboy, Pools and Playdates
Amanda Beard competed in her first Olympic Games as an innocent 14 year old. Now a mother and training for her fifth Games, she opens up about depression, cutting, bulimia and abusive relationships in her new book “In the Water …
Keeping Afloat
For many Olympic athletes, raising money is a second job