'I Feel Like a Little Kid in the Candy Shop'

At times during last weekend's Missouri Grand Prix, Angela Duckworth had to catch herself.

The 17-year-old from Scottsdale, Ariz., used the event as an opportunity to gain experience against some of the world's best in preparation for this summer's Olympic trials in Omaha.

Over the course of the weekend finals, Duckworth finished 12th in the 400-meter freestyle (4 minutes 20.87 seconds) and 12th in the 800 freestyle (9:03.02). However, racing against greats such as American Katie Hoff and Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe gave the budding Olympic hopeful pause.

"I feel like a little kid in the candy shop," Duckworth said. "I want to get their autograph, but I know I'm supposed to be one of their competitors. It's fun watching them break world records and American records. Knowing that they can do it at such a young age means I can aspire to my goals of going to the Olympics."

After Missouri, Duckworth said she plans to compete at the Stanford Grand Prix (April 3-6) and the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational, the Toyota Grand Prix Series finale (June 5-8).

Duckworth's Olympic aspirations began early. At age 10, she was one of the nation's fastest in the 500 freestyle. As a freshman at Scottsdale's Desert Mountain High School, she won the Arizona 5A title in the event. A member of Sun Devil Aquatics, Duckworth trains at Arizona State's facilities, and in December, she was named a high school Heisman winner.

Although she holds out hope for a trip to Beijing, Duckworth is focusing on the 2012 London Games as a potential breakthrough.

"She's still developing," said Tyson Wellock, Duckworth's coach at Sun Devil Aquatics. "She broke through a few plateaus about a year ago. She stalled when she was in high school, but she has pushed through those plateaus and has made some big improvements."

For Duckworth, the Missouri Grand Prix meant another opportunity to find front-row inspiration from former Olympians.

"I know I can do the same thing," she said.

-- Andrew Astleford