Ian Thorpe

With more celebrated teammate Ian Thorpe taking a yearlong break from international swimming, Australia's Grant Hackett (right) became the alltime world championship medals leader, garnering five in Montreal to run...

Michael Phelps's ambitious gold rush hit a couple of bronze bumps, but he remained the center of attention as his medal haul grew, befitting the world's most versatile swimmer

The swimmer, 32, who retired in 1996 and still holds three world records, hosts a meet in Long Beach, Calif., this week.

Here are five U.S. swimmers who, along with Michael Phelps, could make a big splash at the Athens Games in 2004:

Michael Phelps announced himself as an Olympic favorite after winning three events at the U.S. Nationals