Countless dreams have been ignited while watching the world's best athletes compete in the Olympic Games. Boys and girls, inspired by personal sports heroes, begin to train and pursue their own paths to the medals podium. During the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, while many youngsters were being motivated to start out on their own journey to elite competition, one comeback athlete was unknowingly inspiring another to return to the sport she left a decade earlier.

In 1975, at the age of seven, Tracy Long became a synchronized swimmer, competing first in her native Richmond, Va., and then moving to Walnut Creek, Calif., where the then-16-year-old continued to train and excel. During the years Long competed with the Walnut Creek squad, they won five of six national titles. In 1985-86, she was a member of the U.S. National second team and moved up to the first team in 1987-89. There were victories at the 1987 Pan American Games and the 1987 Worlds before she won four titles (team, solo, duet and figures) at the 1989 Worlds. However, the following year's results were less than stellar and Long decided it was time to get out of the pool.

"Back then it was still a very new Olympic sport," Long recalls, explaining that synchronized swimming at the Games only dates back to 1984. "It was exciting," she says, "but at that time I really don't think that was my goal. If it had been my goal, I think I would have overcome obstacles and stayed and not retired in 1990. But I felt that I really had accomplished all that I was going to accomplish in the sport and that there were many things on the horizon that I was kind of missing out on because I had been so dedicated to a sport."

Now, at the age of 34, Long is back in the pool, training and competing again with Walnut Creek. What brought this about? "Dara Torres," says Long. Torres, who returned to competitive swimming after a seven-year absence, won two gold and three bronze medals at the Sydney Olympic Games. If Torres could successfully return to her sport, why couldn't Long?

At first, family and friends questioned her sanity for wanting to resume her synchronized swimming career. After calling her coach, Gail Pucci, Long traveled to California to spend a week with the Walnut Creek squad. And, so far, her comeback is a successful one. Long was recently named to the 2002 U.S. National Team I and World Cup Team, which will represent the USA against the world's best at the 2002 FINA World Cup in Zurich, Switzerland Sept. 12-15. She is the senior member of the 12-person squad for which the average age is 20, however her 16 years of experience and selection to seven national teams also surpass the team averages of 12 years and five appointments.

Long's comeback has proven successful no matter the end result. She was "Up Next" worthy a decade ago, and amazingly enough is a worthy candidate again as she steps in and takes over where she left off.

Long has found that her sport changed dramatically during her absence, shifting from an emphasis on control to speed and power. But she says she has changed, too, concentrating more on swimming and less on the emotional aspects of life. "I'm more even-keeled," she reports. She says the reality of her return to synchronized swimming has far exceeded her expectations. The 2004 Olympic Games are on the horizon, however Long thinks that continuing her competitive career beyond that event is unlikely. Although not one to proclaim 'never again,' she says there are other goals in her life: a husband, children and starting a business. But for now, Long is back in the pool.