Busy Beard Narrows Focus to Beijing

Three-time Olympian Amanda Beard has endorsements and extracurriculars to worry about, but only one thing really matters right now: this week's Olympic swimming trials. The red-carpet fixture and onetime Playboy cover model is all business as she dives into the pool of hopefuls competing to represent the US in breaststroke and individual medley, the Los Angeles Times reports.

It took Beard's new coach a while to get used to her eclectic list of commitments, which this year included a stint judging Miss America. "What? What?" Cyndi Gallagher remembers thinking, "The stuff she does is just beyond my scope of anything." But if Beard doesn't make Beijing, she can fall back on her onetime job as Playboy Mansion swim instructor. (More swimming stories.)