Beard laughed at the suggestion. The street may be a dead end, but her career hasn't reached one. She is eagerly anticipating the Olympic trials, which start today in Indianapolis. She won a gold and two silver medals, and she toted a large teddy bear around the pool deck, the media in tow. Beard is older now, and wiser.
Stuffed animals are out.
Tattoos and body piercing are in. She has two tattoos and a tongue stud. She heads into the trials, though, as a memory. When people started asking what had happened to her as a swimmer, she decided those questions didn't need to be answered and took a sabbatical. That's the way I like to go in.