For what is supposed to be a care-free taper before embarking on a grueling eight-day meet in Omaha, Neb., SwimMAC Carolina and U.S. national teammates Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary encountered a treacherous day of travel from Charlotte, N.C.
A flight carrying them, coach David Marsh, who is also the U.S. Olympic women's coach; and a handful of SwimMAC Carolina Olympic hopefuls was forced to land in Kansas City, Mo., after a mechanical issue with the aircraft's oxygen system. The pilot descended to 10,000 feet for more than 30 minutes before landing.
"We were supposed to get [to Omaha] around 3 p.