London Olympics 2012: Swimmer Allison Schmitt Ready For The Spotlight

Pittsburgh native Allison Schmitt made headlines last month when she set a new world record in the 200-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials. She broke her old record with a 1:54.40 finish in the event, an event she will also compete in when the 2012 Olympics kick off in London later this week.

A student at the University of Georgia, Schmitt has been training almost non-stop in the lead up to the games. She has even trained with Michael Phelps in Baltimore. She credits a more thorough approach to training for her recent performance. From an interview with Online Athens:

"This last year, I really focused on every little thing - every little detail - rather than just going to the pool, practicing, doing weights, going to my room and that's it," Schmitt said. "I was working on nutrition, getting enough sleep, concentrating. It really helped me get to the next level, and when I got to trials, I didn't feel like I was at trials. I felt like I was just at another swim meet."

Schmitt takes to the water for the first time in the Olympics on Sunday, July 29, in the 400-meter freestyle. Heats for the event take place that morning, with the finals scheduled for the evening. The women's 200-meter freestyle takes place on Monday, July 30. A complete scheduled for the 2012 Olympic games is available here.

For more Olympics coverage, check out SB Nation's 2012 Olympics hub.