Gene Pool, The

The Kirks (Tara and Dana) and Kellers (Klete and Kalyn) give the term, "Olympic Family," a whole new meaning.

You'd think that after touching the wall in the 100 breaststroke and turning to see that she had gotten her hands on the wall in second place, earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, Tara Kirk wouldn't have a worry in the world.

That's what you'd think-but, until her younger sister, Dana, made the team in the 200 fly, Tara's happiness wasn't complete.

"It was really great at Trials when she made it because then both of us could be happy for ourselves without feeling sad for the other. Also, having your sister make the team is an amazing feeling-I think that it's better than making it yourself."

Just ask two-time Olympian, Klete Keller. He had already qualified for the team in the 200 and 400 freestyles when he sat with his parents and older sister at the Olympic Trials in Long Beach to watch younger sister, Kalyn, outrace 2000 gold and silver medalists, Brooke Bennett and Diana Munz, in order to become the second Keller on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. Four years ago, Kalyn stayed back home in Phoenix while Klete went on to swim in Sydney, but she was determined not to let that happen again.

"She's a really good workout trainer, and she beats a lot of the boys. She'll probably be a little nervous, so I can be there for her. She's worked so hard for this all of these years," Klete says of his sister.

Becoming an Olympian is not the only way Kalyn, 19, and Dana, 20, have followed in their older siblings' footsteps. Both younger sisters signed on to swim at their older siblings' university of choice. In May, Kalyn wrapped up her freshman year at the University of Southern California, where Klete swam for two years before turning professional and moving to Michigan to swim under Jon Urbanchek at Club Wolverine. Dana recently finished her sophomore year at Stanford University, where Tara just concluded a perfect collegiate career. She was unbeaten all four years in the 100 breaststroke.

Together, the Kirk sisters and the Keller family have written a page in the history books. Tara and Dana are the only sister twosome ever to qualify for the same U.S. swim team. Klete and Kalyn are only the third brother-sister duo. And 2004 is the first year the U.S. Olympic swimming team has ever had two families qualify for the same team, giving the term,"Olympic Family," a whole new meaning.

The Kirks and Kellers in Athens

Dana Kirk

200 Fly: 9th (2:10.69sf)

Tara Kirk

100 Breast: 6th (1:07.59)

400 Medley Relay: GOLD (1:07.08p 100 breast)

Kalyn Keller

400 Free: 10th (4:09.83p)

800 Free: 4th (8:26.97)

Klete Keller

200 Free: 4th (1:46.13)

400 Free: BRONZE (3:44.11 American record)

800 Free Relay: GOLD (1:45.53 200 free anchor)

Copyright Sports Publications, Inc. Sep 2004
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