Widely versatile, Coughlin made headlines in 1998 when she qualified for the U.S. National Championships in every single event, every distance, every stroke. Unprecedented. She injured her shoulder in 1999 and battled that injury for 18 months. She won the battle. In 2001 and 2002, she did something very few have done before. She won all three of her individual races - all in American record time - both years. She won NCAA Swimmer of the Year awards both years. In 2001, she won the 100m backstroke World title.

Which brings us to the 2002 U.S. Summer Nationals, what a meet! Check it out! She won everything she swam!

> 100m butterfly (58.49), fourth-fastest American ever behind Torres, Thompson and Mary T. Meagher
> 100m backstroke (59.58), world record, first woman under one minute
> 200m freestyle (1:58.20), second-fastest time by an American ever; fastest U.S. swim in 10 years
> 100m freestyle (54.66), third-fastest American ever behind Thompson and Torres
> 200m backstroke (To be swum, Aug. 16)

The following Q&A was conducted moments after she broke the world record.

Q1: What was your reaction to breaking the 100m backstroke world record?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: I was glad that I finally did it. It's been in the back of my mind for a while. It's good to get it over with and finally break it. I kept saying tonight, 'Tonight's the night, tonight's the night, tonight's the night.' I don't feel great, but I knew I could do it tonight. However, I did hit the bottom of the pool and this isn't a very good pool for backstroke starts. Other than that, it was good … not with my head, but with my feet on the kick … I'm just a couple short one, so I don't even know what Courtney Shealy did (she's a tall one). I'm not bashing the pool, but it is kind of shallow. (I hit my feet) a couple times on my downkick … but just briefly … just a brush.

Q2: What about being the first under a minute?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: One thing my coach says that it will be a part of swimming trivia. No one can take that away from me. People can break records, but being the first one under is something that I'll always have.

Q3: What do you think about breaking a Chinese swimmer's record?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: I've gotten so close to it and so many people are like, 'Oh, those Chinese girls, oh … " I mean, the USA's stance on drugs in swimming is very, very sturdy. A lot people say that that girl was on … whatever … at the time she broke the record. It's good to clear the boards; I have it now.

Q4: How much faster can you go?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: I don't know. I always make mistakes in races and I'll never be perfect technical wise, so I think I can always get faster as long as I'm enjoying it and working hard … and injury free, knock on wood. (What mistakes?) Ah, I hit the bottom of the pool, so there, and … I don't know … it hurt a lot more than I was hoping it would. There a lot of like little itty-bity technical things, but all those little things add up to time. There's always little areas you can improve on.

Q5: Were a lot of swimmers expecting the record, pulling for you?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: Well, I knew people were expecting it because I heard it enough. I kept saying tonight was the night. During the race, I was surprised at how fast people were out, so I didn't even think I was doing that well, because everyone was with me for the first 50. Everyone took it out like a champ. I was just happy to come home and finally, finally break a minute.

Q6: Does breaking the record that pressure off you?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: It takes a lot of pressure off (laughs). I mean I'm glad people such confidence in me, so they'd say, when's 59 going to happen and they were saying that a year ago, when double oh was new to me, so I'm glad to get it out of the way. I've gotten two things off the list at this meet … making the team and getting under a minute. The rest of it is just fun.

Q7: Do you have any idea at this point what events you'd like to swim in the Olympics?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: I never think that far in advance. I still don't even know what I'm doing for Pan Pacs. I can enter in whatever event I want and we haven't decided. Teri, my coach and I … we just take things one step at a time. It's easier to look at things like that.

Q8: Why do you think you like switching around with so many events?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: I don't like to do the same thing over and over again .. 'cause, you know, you always get a time, always swimming the same event, always getting 54.9, 55.2 … it's all so boring. This just keeps it interesting; it makes training more interesting. It's a don't-put-all-of-your-eggs-in-one-basket kind of thing. I look at it as having a lot of options.

Q9: Do you cook stuff for yourself that's for your swimming career?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: I don't bake. Let's get it straight. Cooking and baking are very different things. I can't bake, mainly because my oven is a 1930s oven. I cook healthy and then indulge … rich food. On the healthy side, I like seafood, prawns, pasta salad. On the not-so-healthy side, I like really heavy soups in the winter, my comfort foods, but it's better than going to fast food. When you make it yourself, you know what's going into it.

Q10: What's a couple of your favorite surfing places?

NATALIE COUGHLIN: My favorite place is Kauai, Hawai'i. That's where my mom's family is and where I was growing up as a kid in the summer. It's familiar and nice and you don't have to wear a wetsuit. My second favorite place is actually a really awful beach … Pacifica, Calif., but it brings memories. Linda Mar. It's always cold and nasty. And sharks, a lot of sharks. And coral.