SON SPLASH: GARY HALL JR.

GARY HALL JR. WANTS TO BE MORE THAN JUST THE CLOWN PRINCE OF AMERICAN SWIMMING

It is but days before the Olympics, and the tune keeps turning around in Gary Hall Jr.'s head. The song is called The Wheel, by his favorite band, the Grateful Dead, and it goes, "The wheel is turning, and you can't slow down." And then, "Won't you try just a little bit harder? Couldn't you try just a little bit more?"

The questions weigh heavily on Hall, the lanky, mercurial Arizonan who is one of the U.S.'s best hopes for Atlanta gold in swimming. It is a sport once dominated by Americans, but today China, Australia, Germany, Hungary and Russia produce...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!