RICK COLELLA to be inducted into MISHOF, Class of 2019
The International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) is
proud to announce that Rick Colella, will be inducted into the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019 during the
MISHOF Induction ceremonies in St. Louis, MO, on Friday evening, September 13,
2019, to be held in conjunction with the United States Aquatic Sports
convention.
Seattle-born,
Rick Colella, started competitive swimming at age eight and rose through the
ranks along with his older sister, Lynn. Both were star swimmers at the
University of Washington and Olympic prospects. By the time he was in his early
20’s, he was one of the best swimmers in the world and represented the United
States at the Munich and Montreal Olympic Games.
After
swimming, Rick Colella then took a job with Boeing as a flight-operations
engineer and dabbled in other sports including running, canoeing and Nordic
skiing. In 1990, the year the King County Aquatics Center was built for the
Goodwill Games, Colella started swimming again with a group of five friends.
“I
realized swimming is a great exercise as you get older. Whereas jogging and
other sports got too hard on my body, swimming makes less of an impact but
still keeps me fit,” he said.
Since
competing in Masters, Colella has set 47 Masters World Records and the
longevity of some of his records is what makes them more impressive. His 200-breaststroke
short course world record in the 60-64 age group has stood for eight years.
Colella will
be inducted as part of a group of nine (9) outstanding individuals that will be
inducted at MISHOF’s annual ceremony. The event will be held at the Hyatt
Regency St. Louis at the Arch in conjunction with the 2019 United States
Aquatic Sports Convention.
The
prestigious MISHOF class of 2019 includes five swimmers, one diver, one
synchronized swimmer, one water polo player and one contributor, from five (5)
different countries: the USA, Canada, Lithuania, Brazil and Japan:
SWIMMER
INDUCTEES: CAROLINE KRATTLI (USA), SATOKO TAKEUJI (JPN), RICK COLELLA
(USA), ROWDY GAINES (USA) and WILLARD LAMB (USA); DIVER INDUCTEE: ASTA
GIRDAUSKIENE (LIT), SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER INDUCTEE: MARJORIE ANDERSON
(CAN), WATER POLO PLAYER INDUCTEE: JOAO MEIRELLES (BRA), CONTRIBUTOR
INDUCTEE: JIM MILLER (USA)
The
event is open to the public and free of charge.
About ISHOF
The
International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a
not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
USA. It was first recognized by FINA, the International Olympic
Committee’s recognized governing body for the aquatic sports, in 1968.
ISHOF’s mission is to collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to
preserve, educate and celebrate history, showcase events, share cultures, and
increase participation in aquatic sports.
For more
information, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or
e-mail:
meg@ishof.org
Marjorie Anderson inducted into MISHOF as part of Class of 2019
MARJORIE ANDERSON (CANADA) SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
The Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) is
proud to announce that Marjorie Anderson, will be inducted into the Masters International Swimming Hall of
Fame as a member of the Class
of 2019 during the MISHOF Induction ceremonies in St. Louis, MO, on Friday
evening, September 13, 2019, to be held in conjunction with the United States
Aquatic Sports convention.
Marjorie
Anderson began to compete in Provincial Masters competitions, followed by
national and finally, International competitions. Her first international competition was in
the very first World Masters Games, held in Toronto in 1985 where she struck
gold in the team event. When the FINA
World Championships were held in Montreal in 1994, she went and conquered with
a gold in duet and two silvers, in solo and team. Anderson has been a fixture at or near the
top of the standings at FINA Worlds and Canadian Nationals ever since.
Marjorie
has attended eight FINA Masters World Championships between the years
1994-2017, winning 18 medals, eight gold, silver and one bronze. She has also won numerous medals at the
Canadian National Championships.
Anderson
will be inducted as part of a group of nine (9) outstanding individuals that
will be inducted at MISHOF’s annual ceremony. The event will be held at the
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in conjunction with the 2019 United States
Aquatic Sports Convention.
The
prestigious MISHOF class of 2019 includes five swimmers, one diver, one
synchronized swimmer, one water polo player and one contributor, from five (5)
different countries: the USA, Canada, Lithuania, Brazil and Japan:
SWIMMER
INDUCTEES: CAROLINE KRATTLI (USA), SATOKO TAKEUJI (JPN), RICK COLELLA
(USA), ROWDY GAINES (USA) and WILLARD LAMB (USA); DIVER INDUCTEE: ASTA
GIRDAUSKIENE (LIT), SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER INDUCTEE: MARJORIE ANDERSON
(CAN), WATER POLO PLAYER INDUCTEE: JOAO MEIRELLES (BRA), CONTRIBUTOR
INDUCTEE: JIM MILLER (USA)
The
event is open to the public and free of charge.
About
MISHOF:
The
purpose of the MISHOF is to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifelong fitness and
participation in adult aquatic programs by recognizing the achievements of
individuals who serve as an example for others. To be considered, honorees must
have participated in Masters programs through at least four different masters
age groups and are qualified by an objective point system based on world
records, world top 10 rankings and World Championship performances. The MISHOF
is a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. For more information, please visit: www.ishof.org
About
ISHOF:
The International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. It was first recognized by FINA, the International Olympic Committee’s recognized governing body for the aquatic sports, in 1968. ISHOF’s mission is to collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to preserve, educate and celebrate history, showcase events, share cultures, and increase participation in aquatic sports.
For
more information, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or e-mail: meg@ishof.org
ROWDY GAINES to be inducted as part of MISHOF Class of 2019
The International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) is proud to announce that Rowdy Gaines, will be inducted into the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019 during the MISHOF Induction ceremonies in St. Louis, MO, on Friday evening, September 13, 2019, to be held in conjunction with the United States Aquatic Sports convention.
As a sprint freestyler, Ambrose “Rowdy” Gaines became a legend when he overcame the disappointment of the 1980 Olympic boycott to win three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Then, in 1988, Rowdy got involved in Masters swimming when the legendary Tiger Holmes asked him to be a part of his Holmes Lumberjax Masters team and join them on their trip to the FINA Masters World Championships in Australia.
In 1991, Rowdy’s athletic pursuits in Masters Swimming came to a halt, when the swimming champion was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks part of their peripheral nervous system. He made a full recovery after only two months of treatment, eventually integrating swimming into his physical therapy routine.
In Masters swimming, Rowdy has broken 26 FINA Masters World Records (19 long course and 7 short course), 24 individual USMS records and has competed in four different age groups. Gaines has been in the Top Ten 17 times and he has had 57 swims ranked in the top ten. Rowdy has attended only two FINA World Championships, and only one, swimming in individual events, so he has accumulated most of his points through world records, world rankings and top ten standings.
The longevity of some of Rowdy’s world records is incredible. His longest standing world record of his 200m freestyle record in the 30-34 age group that was set in 1989 is still standing after 30 years.
Rowdy recently turned 60 and is hoping to swim in future Masters meets. Every year, he hosts the Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic, a Masters swim meet held every October in Orlando. This year will be the 11th annual.
Rowdy and Judy Gaines
Gaines will be inducted as part of a group of nine (9) outstanding individuals that will be inducted at MISHOF’s annual ceremony. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in conjunction with the 2019 United States Aquatic Sports Convention.
The prestigious MISHOF class of 2019 includes five swimmers, one diver, one synchronized swimmer, one water polo player and one contributor, from five (5) different countries: the USA, Canada, Lithuania, Brazil and Japan:
SWIMMER INDUCTEES: CAROLINE KRATTLI (USA), SATOKO TAKEUJI (JPN), RICK COLELLA (USA), ROWDY GAINES (USA) and WILLARD LAMB (USA); DIVER INDUCTEE: ASTA GIRDAUSKIENE (LIT), SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER INDUCTEE: MARJORIE ANDERSON (CAN), WATER POLO PLAYER INDUCTEE: JOAO MEIRELLES (BRA), CONTRIBUTOR INDUCTEE: JIM MILLER (USA)
The event is open to the public and free of charge.
About MISHOF:
The purpose of the MISHOF is to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifelong fitness and participation in adult aquatic programs by recognizing the achievements of individuals who serve as an example for others. To be considered, honorees must have participated in Masters programs through at least four different masters age groups and are qualified by an objective point system based on world records, world top 10 rankings and World Championship performances. The MISHOF is a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit: www.ishof.org
About ISHOF:
The International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. It was first recognized by FINA, the International Olympic Committee’s recognized governing body for the aquatic sports, in 1968. ISHOF’s mission is to collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to preserve, educate and celebrate history, showcase events, share cultures, and increase participation in aquatic sports.
For more information, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or e-mail:meg@ishof.org
Swimming World Presents “Pioneers of Title IX: The Prohibition of Sex Discrimination in Educational Programs”
Pioneers of Title IX: The Prohibition of Sex Discrimination in Educational Programs
By Bruce Wigo
As Swimming World presents this year’s Female High School Swimmer of the Year, we take a look back to the years when there were only isolated opportunities for girls to swim while in high school. We also remember two pioneers who helped make swimming a high school sport for women: Donna de Varona and Sandra Bucha.
For most of history, at least in Europe, swimming was like all other forms of physical exercise: in the realm of the man’s world.
But as women began to travel in great numbers by water, it was discovered that women drowned in disproportionate numbers to men when accidents happened. Thus, swimming was recognized as being more than a sport, and women started exerting their right to swim so they could save themselves when necessary.
Once women were allowed to learn to swim for safety, some also wanted to participate in swimming as a sport—like the men. While the Amateur Athletic Union recognized a national swimming championship for men in 1876, women would have to wait until 1916 to crown national champions.
The first college to offer swimming was the University of Pennsylvania in 1897. Others followed, and within a few years, leagues were being formed and the first intercollegiate championships were held—for men. In 1937, the NCAA officially recognized men’s swimming as a championship sport. From 1917 through 1980, an intercollegiate and/or NCAA swimming guide was published that included all the results from high school, junior college and college meets—again, for boys and men.
While the USA was producing many of the finest women swimmers in the world, it was through AAU clubs, not from school programs. In fact, until the passage of the landmark legislation of 1972, known as Title IX, there were very few high schools that offered competitive sports programs. If girls sports programs did exist, they were mostly “non-competitive” in nature…and state championships for them were not even considered.
Of course, there were exceptions. The state of Florida began hosting a high school swimming championship for girls in 1920, although very few schools participated due to the dearth of pools.
BEGINNINGS OF TITLE IXThe gender equity discussion took a major leap forward with the publication of the July 25-Aug. 1, 1964 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. On the cover were the two American stars of the 1964 Olympic Games, Donna de Varona and Don Schollander. Both had attended Santa Clara High School in California. Both swam for legendary Coach George Haines and the Santa Clara Swim Club. Haines was also the coach of the high school, but only Schollander swam for the school since there wasn’t a girls’ team…
To access the full article about the female pioneers of Title IX,check out the full July 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
Ryan Lochte, Family Man on a Mission, is Back Among World’s Elite
by DANIEL D’ADDONA
04 August 2019, 09:28pm
Ryan Lochte is back — really back.
Yes, he swam earlier in the meet, making a comeback from a 14-month suspension, swimming a strong time trial in the 200 IM to turn a few heads, then swam in a few other events, not making an A final.
But on Sunday, a day after turning 35, he was the top seed in an A final on the national stage — and he did even better in finals, winning in 1:57.76.
It was far from his world record 1:54.00, but it was still a performance just outside of the top 10 in the world this year and a tenth of a second out of making the finals at the World Championships.
That means even with the time off because of the suspension, the lack of sleep with a new baby, the fact that he only trains about half the time of his teammates because of his young family, the fact that he turned 35 on Saturday — even with all of that — he is still one of the world’s elite swimmers.
“Every time I got up on the blocks and raced (this week), it was the hardest thing,” Lochte said. “I don’t know half the swimmers I am swimming against because they are all 10 years younger than me. But it is fun getting on those blocks and racing again, being happy with the sport. I lost that mojo that I had a while ago. Now, I am finally getting that back. I guess I owe it all to my family because I am doing it for them. Just racing, that competitive edge, I lost it. I am slowly getting it back. I will know it when I get on the blocks and feel like I can go toe-to-toe with anyone. That is what I was always the best at, going and racing.”
He was able to do that in his signature event — an event he has now won at nationals five times in the past 11 years.
Overall, it was Lochte’s 10th individual long-course national — and first since 2014, when he won the 200 IM.
Since then, he has had some turbulent times, including the infamous Rio gas station incident, and has checked himself into alcohol rehab.
But with a young and growing family, Lochte is adamant that that lifestyle is behind him.
“I think it is pretty obvious now, I am 100 percent family. They changed my whole life and gave me a new perspective on everything,” he said. “That party-boy image I used to have kind of messed me up and stuck with me. But that is not me — I could care less about that lifestyle. My celebrations are picking up my son and daughter and playing with them.”
Ryan Lochte; Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Now, his challenge is to balance his family time with work in the water.
“Since my daughter has been born, the last five-and-a-half or six weeks, I haven’t really been in the pool. In a week, I would be there maybe four times,” he said. “We are going to start getting help with the kids, a night nanny so I can get my sleep and wake up and be ready to go to swim practice, instead of being too tired. A lot of things will change in that aspect, but it is for the best.”
Lochte knows he will never be the same swimmer that won both IM titles in 2009, then repeated in both in 2010 — plus won the 200 back title. Or even the same swimmer he was in 2013 when he won all three again.
But Lochte’s perspective on family, life and racing has him striving to be the best 35-year-old swimmer in the world — and with a full year of training — this could be the start of one of the best comebacks in swimming history.
“I needed to kick the rust off. It took until the last race of the meet,” he said. “This was a starting point to see where I am. I am going to be a lot better next year. I am excited for this next year.”
Whether it is or not — or he makes Tokyo or not — Lochte is back on the path to success in and out of the water, which is huge for the sport of swimming and a 35-year-old family man on a mission.
Ryan Lochte; Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Passages: 1960 200 Butterfly Olympic Gold Medalist Mike Troy Dies at 78
by ANDY ROSS
03 August 2019, 04:53pm
Mike Troy
1960 Olympian
October 3, 1940 – August 3, 2019
Mike Troy picked up the dolphin butterfly stroke where Bill Yorzyk left off and it didn’t take long for the swimming world to find out it would take some kind of a horse to beat this Troy. He carried the butterfly standard to new World and Olympic records with heroic time drops before and during the 1960 Rome Olympics.
In Rome he doubled with a second Olympic gold medal for his 200 freestyle leg of the USA’s winning 4×200 freestyle relay. Troy helped this relay unseat the Australians and the Japanese who had taken turns owning the event since 1955. The Americans won the gold medal by three seconds over silver medal winning Japan with George Harrison, Dick Blick, Troy and Jeff Farrell.
Troy came up through the Park district swim program in Indianapolis and was discovered by Doc Barton and Jim Clark. He joined Frank McKinney, Bill Barton, Bill Cass and Marty Sommers as the high school boys who won the Nationals for Clark’s Indianapolis Athletic Club team in the 1950s. All five went on to Indiana to begin the Indiana University swimming dynasty coached by Doc Counsilman.
Troy with Doc Counsilman. Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame
Troy was the second American to win the 200 butterfly Olympic gold medal after Yorzyk won the inaugural gold in 1956. He also won the silver in the 200 fly at the 1959 Pan American Games behind fellow American Dave Gillanders and was also on the gold medal winning 4×200 free relay team.
Following his retirement as a swimmer, Mike Troy became a Navy Seal and officer decorated for distinguished and heroic action in Vietnam with a star. When he got out of the service Troy settled in the San Diego area where he split his time between real estate and coaching.
Troy was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1971.
More Background on the Life of Mike Troy
Troy began swimming at the age of eight, by 12, he was asked to train with the famed Indiana Athletic Club, swimming with the likes of Frank McKinney, Bill Barton, Bill Cass and Alan Sommers, high schoolers at the time, but all would go on to become Olympians.
Troy was offered a scholarship to Indiana University to be coached by the legendary ISHOF Coach, Doc Counsilman, following his Indiana Athletic Club teammates. But before Troy even arrived in Bloomington, he won the AAU National Championship in the 100-meter butterfly. Next up were the U.S. Nationals where he won the 200-meter butterfly in world record time and took a second gold as part of the 800-meter freestyle relay.
In August 1960, he competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials, qualifying first in the 200-meter butterfly, his signature event, while also lowering his own world record. Mike and three of his teammates from the Indiana Athletic Club and Indiana University were headed to the 1960 Olympic Games.
In Rome, as part of the U.S. Olympic team, Troy won two gold medals, while breaking world records in each event. The first gold came in his 200-freestyle leg of the USA’s winning 800-meter freestyle relay. He helped the American relay unseat the Australians and Japanese who had taken turns owning the event since 1955. His second gold medal came in the 200-meter butterfly, where he had broken the world record in the event, six consecutive times in the last 14 months, while lowering the mark by over six seconds.
Photo Courtesy: ISHOF
Troy finished his college career by helping IU win their first Big Ten Championship in 1961. He was named Team Captain as a Senior, competing in his final collegiate meet on March 2, 1962, where he went 52.9 in the 100-yd Butterfly, setting an American, NCAA and Big Ten Record.
Upon graduating college, Troy became a Naval Officer and a member of the Navy Underwater Demolition/SEALS. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was nominated for the Silver Star for distinguished and heroic service during the war.
Troy found his way to San Diego after leaving the service and settled there, working as a real estate agent and swim coach. He moved around the state and after being quite successful in real estate in California, he moved to Tempe, Arizona in 1990.
Through the years, Troy had developed many champions at all levels, age-group, junior and national champions. Many of his athletes have been named to national and international teams, including four Olympic Champions, Matt Biondi being one of them.
In the mid-1990’s, Troy decided to give up coaching and start teaching swim lessons at his own swim school. Troy described it as therapy for him. In the mid-1980’s, while he was living in Walnut Creek, California, coaching high schooler, Matt Biondi, he also became involved with helping people with disabilities in the pool. He decided to build the Gold Medal Swim School in the city of Chandler, Arizona, which opened in 1996.
Troy gave back to the sport that he loved so much by serving on different committees. He was Chairman of the International Section of the Olympic Committee and served as Vice President of the American Swimming Coaches Association. He served as the National Director of the USA Paralympic Swim Team in 2004, a team that travelled to the Athens Games and won numerous medals.
In 2004, Troy was named the National Teacher of the Year from the United States Swim School Association (USSSA)
.
More recently, Troy continued to focus on teaching people of all ages and disabilities, swimming, a sport that he believed could save lives.
He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)as an Honor Swimmer in December, 1971, and was the first of Doc Counsilman’s 17 Indiana swimmers to be inducted into ISHOF. Present for his induction was his roommate in San Diego, and fellow Frogman, Fred Schmidt, who flew in from Vietnam just for the occasion. Schmidt was the first frogman to reach and open both the Apollo 13 and 14 immediately after splashdown.
Troy was also inducted into the Indiana University Hall of Fame, and the Helms Arco Hall of Fame.
CAROLINE KRATTLI to be inducted as part of MISHOF Class of 2019
The International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) is proud to announce that Caroline Krattli, of Wind and Sea Masters Swimming, Imperial – San Diego, USA, will be inducted into the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019 during the MISHOF Induction ceremonies in St. Louis, MO, on Friday evening, September 13, 2019, to be held in conjunction with the United States Aquatic Sports convention.
Growing up in beautiful Southern California, Caroline Krattli was quite an accomplished swimmer. She was ranked as high as 12th in the nation in the 200-meter breaststroke and was competing with the likes of Tracy Caulkins.
Caroline began playing physically demanding two-man beach volleyball for the next ten years, and quickly rose to the top, becoming one of the best players in California. That is, until volleyball began to take its toll on her body. To give her body a break, Caroline decided to head back to the pool.
That’s when she discovered Masters Swimming.
It also sparked that competitive urge. With the encouragement of her husband, Krattli went to the 1998 USMS Short Course Nationals and was hooked. She enjoyed being around the Masters swimmers she met, as well as reconnecting with swimmers she had swum with years ago.
It didn’t take long for Caroline to make her mark. She became one of the best Masters swimmers in the pool in the early 2000’s and was swimming the best times of her life in her 40’s.
Krattli did not realize how important Masters Swimming had become in her life until it was taken away from her. In 2012, she had a recurrence of Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, which is a syndrome that can lead to muscle paralysis.
She was out of the water for several months and when she finally returned, practices were difficult, and she was always short of breath. But that has not stopped her determination. In 2017, despite her respiratory issues, Krattli trained and competed at the USMS Nationals in Riverside. She set seven USMS National and one FINA Masters World record in the 55-59 age group.
In total, Caroline Krattli has set 38 FINA Masters World Records and competed in five different age-groups. She has been in the Top Ten on 15 different occasions and at the 2002 FINA Masters World Championships, she won five gold medals.
Krattli will be inducted as part of a group of nine (9) outstanding individuals that will be inducted at MISHOF’s annual ceremony. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in conjunction with the 2019 United States Aquatic Sports Convention.
The prestigious MISHOF class of 2019 includes five swimmers, one diver, one synchronized swimmer, one water polo player and one contributor, from five (5) different countries: the USA, Canada, Lithuania, Brazil and Japan:
SWIMMER INDUCTEES: CAROLINE KRATTLI (USA), SATOKO TAKEUJI (JPN), RICK COLELLA (USA), ROWDY GAINES (USA) and WILLARD LAMB (USA); DIVER INDUCTEE: ASTA GIRDAUSKIENE (LIT), SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER INDUCTEE: MARJORIE ANDERSON (CAN), WATER POLO PLAYER INDUCTEE: JOAO MEIRELLES (BRA), CONTRIBUTOR INDUCTEE: JIM MILLER (USA)
The event is open to the public and free of charge. Book Your Hotel
About MISHOF:
The purpose of the MISHOF is to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifelong fitness and participation in adult aquatic programs by recognizing the achievements of individuals who serve as an example for others. To be considered, honorees must have participated in Masters programs through at least four different masters age groups and are qualified by an objective point system based on world records, world top 10 rankings and World Championship performances. The MISHOF is a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit: www.ishof.org
About ISHOF
The International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. It was first recognized by FINA, the International Olympic Committee’s recognized governing body for the aquatic sports, in 1968. ISHOF’s mission is to collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to preserve, educate and celebrate history, showcase events, share cultures, and increase participation in aquatic sports.
For more information, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or e-mail:meg@ishof.org
2019 Phillips 66 USA Swimming Nationals: Day Two Start Lists: Dressel, Regan Smith to Swim 200 Free
by ANDY ROSS
01 August 2019, 08:08am
2019 Phillips 66 USA Swimming Nationals
Day Two Heats
The second day of the 2019 Phillips 66 USA Swimming Nationals will feature the 200 free, 200 breast and 200 back on Thursday morning in Palo Alto, California. The meet will begin at 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time as this meet is serving as the primary selection meet for the 2019 World Junior Championships at the end of August in Budapest, Hungary.
Notably, Caeleb Dressel will be making an appearance in the 200 free on Thursday morning as he is coming off a successful 6-gold performance from the World Championships last week in Gwangju, South Korea. Dressel is seeded fourth and will be in the final heat next to Australia’s Elijah Winnington.
Regan Smith is also swimming the 200 free after she came off the World Championships last week with two new world records in both backstroke events. Smith is seeded fifth in the 200 free and she could be used as an option for the 4×200 free relay moving forward. She also won the 200 fly on Wednesday night in Palo Alto with a 2:07, moving her up to fifth in the world. Allison Schmitt is the top seed in the 200 free.
The women’s 200 breast is a particularly weak event on the schedule this morning as Australian Jenna Strauch is the top seed with Stanford sophomore Zoe Bartel seeded second. Madisyn Cox will also be swimming the event, making her US Nationals debut.
Daniel Roy is swimming the 200 breast as he comes in as the top seed, swimming in his home pool at Stanford. He will be a sophomore this fall at Stanford and is coming off a bronze medal from the World University Games earlier this summer. Great Britain’s Craig Benson, who won this event at the 2015 US Nationals, is seeded second.
NCAA Champion Beata Nelson is set to swim the 200 back, coming in as the second seed behind Asia Seidt. Nelson was the swimmer of the meet in March at NCAAs, winning the 200 IM, 100 back and 200 back, breaking the NCAA record in the latter.
Austin Katz is the top seed in the men’s 200 back, coming off a successful summer where he won the World University Games with a 1:55.65.
U.S. Nationals: Bobby Finke Wins 1500 Free by Nearly Five Seconds
by MCKENNA EHRMANTRAUT
31 July 2019, 06:49pm
Men’s 1500 Free (Bobby Finke)
Photo Courtesy:Connor Trimble
There’s no doubt that the distance freestyle events are among the weakest for the American men these days. Perhaps Bobby Finke is a guy who can provide a spark. Behind a time of 14:51.15, Finke comfortably won the 1500 freestyle at Nationals, bettering Zane Grothe (14:56.10) and Michael Brinegar (15:00.82).
Unlike the women’s 800 freestyle, in which Ally McHugh had to rally from last to prevail, Finke was in control through the 30-lap event. Finke went through the 800-meter mark in 7:51.54 and is well-positioned to enjoy a strong week at Nationals. For Grothe, his performance was a major improvement over his showing at Worlds, where Grothe managed a time of only 15:21.43 in prelims.
Finke is now ranked ninth in the world for 2019 while Grothe moved up to 15th.
Brinegar also returned from the World Championships but he swam the open water events two weeks ago. He was 12th in the 5K in his first World Championships.
Arik Katz (15:05.93) and Jake Mitchell (15:11.52) were fourth and fifth while Eric Knowles (15:13.52) placed sixth. Seventh went to Jack Collins (15:15.75) and in eighth was Ross Dant (15:22.06).
2019 World Rankings:
14:36.54, Florian Wellbrock, GER
14:37.63, Mykhailo Romanchuk, UKR
14:38.34, Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA
14:44.72, David Aubry, FRA
14:45.35, Henrik Christiansen, NOR
14:46.51, Daniel Jervis, GBR
14:47.75, Alexander Norgaard, DEN
14:48.52, Jan Micka, CZE
14:51.15, Bobby Finke, USA
14:52.03, Domenico Acerenza, ITA
Regan Smith on National Title After Spectacular Worlds: ‘I Want to Stay Hungry’
by DANIEL D’ADDONA
31 July 2019, 08:04pm
Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
After setting two world records at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea last week, Regan Smith had just a matter of a few days to fly back across the Pacific and prepare for another huge meet.
That is an awful lot to deal with for someone who still has a year of high school to go.
But the 17-year-old Smith has proven to be unlike most teenagers. She swims faster but has a stunning maturity that keeps everything in perspective — which will prove to be pivotal.
“That meet was such a high and we came straight here. Coming into this meet, I wanted to focus on having fun,” Smith said. “Regardless of how last week went (it was the focus of the summer), I wanted to not put any pressure on myself and just race.”
She did that by winning the 200-meter butterfly to open the 2019 Phillips 66 US National Championships on Wednesday, finishing in 2:07.26.
Smith broke Missy Franklin’s world record in the 200 backstroke 2:03.35 — a 7-year-old record. Then, Smith led off the American gold-medal winning 400 medley relay in a world record of 57.57, breaking Kathleen Baker’s mark — plus the relay broke the world record in 3:50.40.
“I definitely surprised myself last week. I was so shocked and still don’t really believe it,” Regan Smith said. “I never thought I would be at this level. I just wanted to make an individual final at worlds. I wanted to perform better for Team USA, that was my big motivation. I still don’t view myself in that way (the world’s elite). And I don’t want to lose that mentality.”
It was a teen phenom performance mirroring that of Franklin in 2012.
“It is really cool that I am following in her footsteps because I look up to her so much,” she said.
How do you follow that? By winning something else.
It started well for Smith, who took the top seed in the 200 butterfly to open the meet and followed it up with a close victory over Lillie Nordmann (2:07.43).
It was a statement in her future home pool as well, as Smith has committed to Stanford, which has transformed into a dynasty of college swimming the past few years. It is a place she will be pushed on a daily basis, by a plethora of teammates.
That is what happened for Regan Smith on the national team as well, especially at the world championships.
Smith said she isn’t staying for the entire meet, but has already put her stamp on one of the most impressive two-week spans any swimmer has ever put together — and she doesn’t realize how special it is. Or maybe she does, but she is not letting herself feel that way, which will be the key to her future success now that the spotlight is upon her.
Going through the rigor and travel of a world championships, then piggy-backing a national championship is a huge step to prepare Smith for her ultimate goal of making the 2020 Olympic team.
“I want to stay hungry. Before last week, I felt like I belonged at the world’s scene, but didn’t feel like I was a force to be reckoned with,” she said. “Now, coming away from that, I feel really confident going into next summer. I can’t think about Tokyo until we get past trials, but I am hoping that goes well.”