INQUIRER Sports

BEIJING -- American Katie Hoff's ambitious six-event program at the Beijing Olympics has yet to yield a gold medal after she missed out on the medals in two finals on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old from Baltimore, whose multi-medal bid drew comparisons to superstar teammate Michael Phelps, finished fourth in the 200 meters freestyle and 200m individual medley.

But Hoff is playing down any disappointment, at least publicly, over her inability to reap a golden reward as the American women come under sustained attack by the crack Australians, led by Libby Trickett, Stephanie Rice and Leisel Jones.

"I would have liked to medal, but I got my first personal best of the meet and I think that's a good effort," Hoff said.

"I can't be upset with that, and I'm just moving on to the next heat."

Hoff is finding it tough going in Beijing, even though she set an American record of one minute 55.78 seconds in finishing fourth behind Italian world record holder Federica Pellegrini in the free.

She was also well beaten in the 200m medley with her time of 2:10.68 well down on her year's best time of 2:09.71 in the event won in world record time by Australian Rice.

In two earlier events, she won a bronze in the 400m individual medley and silver in the 400m freestyle.

Hoff continues to find solace in her teammates, with team leader Natalie Coughlin praising her as a "great representative" of the women's team.

"She's a stud," Coughlin said. "She swam many, many events and many unusual doubles.

"But after the 200 free and 200 IM she'd be tired. I'd be tired too, if I had more events on. She's an awesome swimmer, and a great representative of our women's team."

Hoff's Beijing Games is already a far different experience from Athens, when the 15-year-old baby of the squad finished a disappointing 17th in the 400m medley heats having gone to Greece with the world's fastest time.

She finished seventh in the 200m medley final in Athens.

Hoff's remaining scheduled races are the 800m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.