2021 Trials Update Day 3

Day 3 Observations

Addie Rose swam the 100 Bk today. Race analysis review showed that we were out a little slow 30.04 at the half way point. Our goal is always to swim the first 50 in under 30 sec. When she made the Wave 2 cut ARB's first 50 was 29.7. However, as I have stated earlier in the blog that we are here to RACE and that is what ARB did in the 2nd 50. Coming home in her fastest 50 of the year. ARB ended up 32nd less than .90 from making semi finals, again another goal for 2024.

For the racing at finals we saw a sort of changing of the guard. Two teenagers made the team in the 100 Fly, the winner setting a new American record. The women's 100 Bk again the younger athletes make up the top 8. Its a little sad when you see a 2016 Olympian not make the team. They have dedicated 5 years to get ready, and one thinks if we had not experienced the COVID pandemic and swam the Trials in 2020, would that have made any difference? I think yes, in some circumstances. It is hard, really hard to make the team.

Finally Michael Andrew finally made the team in the 100 Breaststroke. Michael turned pro when he was 14, in fact he is probably the longest professional swimmer here in the US, he is 22 now. If you turn pro you cannot swim for a college, instead he received endorsement money to help him train and compete. Most coaches thought there is no way this "kid" was going to make it, well did he prove the coaching community wrong. Michael is a super young man and if you ever get a chance to meet him or hear him speak, you will know what I mean.

Day 1 Thoughts and Experiences 6/13/2021

ARB RACES the 100 Fly

Addie Rose clocked in with a 1:00.81 in the 100 meter Fly this morning. Her best time in 2021 but slightly off her life time best of 1:00.63. But, the name of the game is RACING here and she did awesome with finishing second in her heat and moving up to 49th position from 63rd. It took a 59.1 to make semi finals, so we have a goal for 2024 :)

Finals Highlight Race
Trials never disappoint, especially the finals and semi finals. The first race was a repeat of 2016 with Chase Kalisz winning the the 400 IM and Jay Litherland coming from behind and splitting a 57 on the free leg to get second. Both swimmer represented UGA and Jay is a Dynamo swimmer. These men both know how to race and put on a fantastic first race.

Observations

What amazes me at this meet, everyone is pulling for everyone. You truly feel a part of Team USA. The amount of coaches and athletes that said good luck to Addie Rose and myself, reminds me that this is the best sport on the planet. It supports our RAYS philosophy of Training for Life (T4L), that you need a supportive community to do anything well in this life. Watching Melanie Margalis tonight being out touched by her former college teammate in the 400 IM and then smiling and giving her a congratulatory hug was priceless. Only in the pool would you see that.

What are the chances of doing a best time at Olympic Trials? 

Look at the results from 2016

Why do I propose such a question the day before the 2021 meet starts? Its simple, it really doesn't matter what time you do, your only goal is to RACE. Racing is the name of the game, how you race in the prelims, semi finals and finals. All have different strategies and all events have different strategies too.

I think we get caught up to much in what time we do in an event, instead of just racing. There is actually a proposal that the International Swim League (Professional Swimmers) that they don't have a timing system, just RACE. I think that would be fun to watch.

Over the next 8 days we will see who came to RACE and who came to get a time. The best racers win and get on the Olympic team.