Family ready to cheer on Olympian

By GINA KINSLOW

GLASGOW — Buddy Underwood and his family were watching TV when his cousin, Elaine Breeden, qualified for the U.S. Summer Olympics a few weeks ago.

“It was pretty exciting,” the Glasgow resident said.

Underwood learned from his cousin’s mother, Lenore Breeden of Lexington, that her daughter would be swimming in the Olympic trials and that it would be televised.

“We watched her in the 100-meter butterfly stroke first and then she came in second place in that,” he said. “I think you have to come in first or second place to qualify. And from what we understand, that was not her best event. Her best event was the 200-meter butterfly stroke and she came in first in the qualifying.”

Underwood is proud of his cousin.

“We were just really excited. It gives us an extra reason to watch the Olympics now,” he said.

Elaine graduated from Trinity Christian Academy in Lexington before going to do her undergraduate studies at Stanford University in California.

In high school, she was a four-event state record holder in the 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and 400-meter individual medley. She was also a three-time Kentucky Swimmer of the Year nominee and broke state records in six events.

During her freshman year at Stanford, she was named a National College Athletic Association champion, as well as a six-time All-American and post-season finalist. She also won several NCAA championships.

Swimming has always been a passion for Elaine, according to Underwood’s sister, Mariam Gibson of Glasgow.

“Since she was just a little girl we’ve been hearing about her swim meets, hearing how hard she worked,” Gibson said.

Gibson and her family also watched Elaine qualify for the Olympics on TV.

“They told us she was almost surprised when she got to the 100-meter, because her best event is the 200-meter. Later that week, she swam in the semifinals for the 200-meter and came in first. She was really, really excited,” Gibson said. “In the 100-meter, she was in third or fourth place until the last split second and she pulled out ahead and touched the wall before the other two.”

Elaine couldn’t believe she had actually qualified for the Olympics.

“I have visualized that moment so many times in my career that it was just hard to believe once it happened. The feeling was just so surreal to have that happen,” she said in a July 2 Lexington Herald-Leader article.

Gibson is planning to get the Glasgow relatives together so they can watch on TV as Elaine competes in the Olympics.

The 2008 Summer Olympics will be in Beijing Aug. 8-24. Until it is time for her to leave for the games, Elaine will spend time practicing.

She will fly to Singapore first where she will spend 10 days practicing and getting acclimated to the time change.

Elaine is scheduled to swim the second day of the games. She was invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the games, but declined because she wanted more time to prepare for her events. Gibson said she’s been told that Elaine will be marching in the closing ceremony.

FYI: Elaine Breeden’s top times, which put her in the Top 10 Ranking at her college, were 1:52.99 for the 200-meter butterfly stroke; 51.44 in the 100-meter butterfly; and 1:56.92 in the 200 individual medley.

More information about Elaine can be found by visiting Stanford’s Web site at http://gostanford.-cstv.com.

For more information about the Olympics, visit http://en.beijing2008.cn