Her training "club" includes a number of Olympic athletes and they provide a lot of support on and off the track – Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas, and U.S. Olympians Antonio Pettigrew, Jerome Young, and Michelle Collins. Marion's massage therapist, Chris Whetstine, is a key member of the team, too.

And her husband C.J. Hunter, the shot-putter, is always there, of course. There is no overestimating, I think, the importance of being married to a world-class athlete in training.

SportsJones: Organizers of the Sydney Games have aggressively tested for performance-enhancing drug use. Several athletes have been disqualified and many others have been suspected of doping. Are we witnessing an Olympic crisis in which the established rules of fair play have been undermined to the point where fans find it difficult to trust the outcome of events?

Rapoport: It seems to be getting worse, doesn't it, and there certainly are problems. I always look forward to the quadrennial Olympic scandal of the Bulgarian weightlifting team, for instance.

But one problem I see is that there is so much talk about drugs that everyone seems to come under suspicion. Track and field has made cynics of us all, I'm afraid. Marion talks about the controversy about drugs – and her brush with a very unfair suspension for missing a drug test while she was in high school – in See How She Runs. Her mother had to hire Johnnie Cochran before the suspension was overturned.

SportsJones: According to several reports, Marion's husband, C.J. Hunter, tested positive in July for the use of steroids. Do you imagine this will in any way distract her from her efforts to win five gold medals?

Rapoport: First, let me say I find it hard to believe. Both Marion and C.J. have spoken very emphatically to me about drugs, and C.J. says he'll defend himself against the charges, so we should suspend judgment.

As for how it will affect Marion, she's great at shutting out distractions but this is bound to be a tough one. If anyone can do it, though, she can.

SportsJones: Many writers have said or implied that world-class performance in many events now almost demands the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Does this ring true to you? As far as you know, has anyone suspected Marion of using performance-enhancing drugs?

Rapoport: One thing Marion has going for is that she has been running so fast for so long – since she was a freshman in high school – that no one but the most cynical people, who think everyone in track and field uses drugs, suspects her. Her record of fast times over the years is her best answer to any doubters.