Local teen one step closer to realizing Olympic dream

Seventeen-year-old synchronized swimmer Brooke Abel is well on her way to securing a spot on the squad that will represent the US at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The Fallbrook teenager recently returned from the 2006 US National Team trials in Portland, OR, where she placed third among the most elite swimmers in the country. The top 12 finishers were named to the US National Team that will represent the United States at the FINA World Cup held Sept. 14-17, 2006, in Yokohama, Japan.

While in Portland, Abel also competed in the Junior Team Trials event (those under 18), where she pl...