OLYPlusSelectPlusSportsOlympics '08: Swimmers Adjust to BeijingOlympics '08: Swimmers Adjust to BeijingThe Associated PressThe American swimmers are adjusting to life in Beijing and to the Olympic villlage. (Aug. 7)((TRACK))((SUPER: Beijing))((VO of Phelps, reporters talking to Phelps))WHEN U-S SWIMMING SUPERSTAR MICHAEL PHELPS CHECKED IN TO BEIJING'S ATHLETE'S VILLAGE EARLIER THIS WEEK, HE GOT SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE.HE'S NOT THE BIGGEST NAME AT THE SUMMER GAMES, NOT EVEN THE SECOND BIGGEST.((SOT))((SUPER: Michael Phelps/Swimmer))'I was sitting in the dining hall the other day and Federer was in there and he just got swarmed. A few of the basketball guys where in there the other night and we got to meet them. They were swarmed, too. I've been fine. Just a picture here or there.'((TRACK))((VO of swimmers on stage.))PHELPS AND A GROUP OF HIS U-S SWIMMING TEAMMATES DREW A BIG ENOUGH CROWD THURSDAY, AS THEY TOOK A BREAK FROM TRAINING TO PROMOTE SWIMSUIT MAKER SPEEDO.ALL OF THE AMERICAN SWIMMERS HERE SAY THEY'RE SETTLING WELL IN BEIJING.((SOT))((SUPER: Amanda Beard/Swimmer))'Everyone in the village is so sweet to us and so helpful. The accommodations are fantastic. It's actually one of the best Olympic villages I've ever been in.'((SOT))((SUPER: Dara Torres/Swimmer))'It really hit me when we got to the Olympic village and moved in and we went to the cube and saw what that was like. It really hit me like, wow, this is another Olympics.'((TRACK))((VO of swimmers on stage, talking to reporters.))THIS U-S TEAM ENTERS THE SUMMER GAMES AMID HIGH EXPECTATIONS.MORE THAN SIX WORLD RECORDS WERE SNAPPED DURING THE TEAM'S TRIALS LAST MONTH.NOW, THE WORLD MEDIA SPOTLIGHT IS ON THIS GROUP.AND, DESPITE HIS RELATIVE ANONYMITY IN THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, THE SPOTLIGHT SHINES BRIGHTEST ON PHELPS, WHO WILL MAKE A RUN AT TOPPING MARK SPITZ'S HAUL OF SEVEN GOLD MEDALS DUIRING THE 19-72 GAMES.ALTHOUGH, HE TELLS REPORTERS, HE'S NOT FOCUSED ON THE RECORD.((SOT))((Phelps))'You guys are focusing on it more than I am. I'm not even thinking about it. I have eight races and I'm focusing on each one, one by one. That's what I have to do.'((TRACK))((VO of swimmers talking to reporters.))THE FIRST SWIMMING MEDALS WILL BE AWARDED ON SUNDAY.JB, THE A-P, BEIJING.
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