Katie McLaughlin, LA Current. In the lead-up to the first International Swimming League pro-team season, Swimming World will look at some of the pioneers of a new chapter unfolding in the sport.
Today: USA national champion in the 100 backstroke.
After winning five relay national titles at Cal, and coming close to winning several times as an individual, Bilquist stood alone with a thrilling and unexpected gold medal around her neck a the 2019 Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships in August.
It was thrilling because it was her first individual title. It was unexpected because she had broken her hand just six weeks before nationals.
Seven Highly Accomplished Individuals Plus Historic Boat To Be Enshrined Nov. 8
Dana Vollmer (women's swimming, 2007-09) - Named the 2009 CSCAA National Swimmer of the Year and the Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year as a senior, Vollmer was the recipient of the Honda Sports Award as the top female collegiate swimmer in 2009. A three-time team MVP, she captured individual NCAA titles in the 100-yard butterfly (2007), 100-yard free (2009), 200-yard free (2009) and was a part of five winning relays over the course of her Cal career. As a senior, she led Cal to its first team NCAA championship. Vollmer is a three-time Olympian (2004, 2012, 2016) and has earned seven medals (5 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), including gold in the 100-meter fly in 2012 and silver in the 100-meter fly in 2016. She set a world record in the 100 fly at the 2012 Olympics, becoming the first woman to swim in the event in under 56 seconds. Overall, she has set a world record six times during her career and owns 35 international medals.
Nathan Adrian had a historic comeback after battling testicular cancer, which put a pause on his training preparations towards Worlds and the upcoming Olympics. At the 2019 World Championships, Adrian swam to a 3-medal haul, earning two golds and one silver. Among the highlights, his anchor leg on the men's 4100 free relay was able to hold off the Russians for the world title.
This award marks Adrian's 4th Golden Goggle in his career.
Who to cheer on at 2019 U.S. Open (Winter Nationals) this week, alongside rooting for the Women's & Men's teams at the 2019 Minnesota Invite...pardon if I may have missed a few names here
Alumna Bears:Billy (Amy), Bug (Katie McL), Foufy (Farida), Camille Cheng & Madison Kennedy Alumni Bears: Matt Josa, Justin Lynch, Nick Norman 2020 Baby Bear: Isabelle Stadden 2021 Baby Bear:Mckenna Stone
swan said:
Others to watch at Winter Nationals:
Dare Rose (Class of 2020)- 400, 200 and 100 Free, 100 and 200 Fly Gabriel Jet (Class of 2021)- 100, 200 and 400 Free, 200 Back Jacob (Class of 2021)- 100 and 200 Breast
50 FREE Then you've got a bunch of vets like Margo Geer(Pan Ams silver medalist), Madison Kennedy(Pan Ams bronze medalist), and Olivia Smoliga(one of the top ISL performers this season) combining with some 200 types swimming down to the 50 (Siobhan Haughey, Mallory Comerford) in a loaded field.
200 FREE Then there are a bunch of depth swimmers who will probably be competing for Olympic relay spots in this race next summer: Cal grad Katie McLaughlinwas a key leg of the American 4200 relay at Worlds last year, splitting 1:55.3. She didn't get to swim the event individually at Worlds, and could be in line for a huge time drop from her 1:56.4 best this week.
100 BACK Fellow pros Amy Bilquistand Ali Deloofare also in that speedster mold. Isabelle Stadden(17) is better in the 200, where she was the Pan Ams silver medalist, but is also a rising contender here.
Farida Osman, Egypt -Osman returned to the LC Worlds pool and defended her 50 fly bronze behind Olympians Sarah Sjostrom and Ranomi Kromowidjojo. She then returned to the US and represented the LA Current for the inaugural ISL season. During her time in the ISL, Osman set 3 new African SCM records in the 50 free and 50/100 fly.
Three-time NCAA Champion and U.S. National Teamer Katie McLaughlin has signed her first major suit deal since completing her collegiate career in March. She joins a roster of sponsored athletes that includes Olivia Smoliga, Lia Neal, Mallory Weggemann, James Guy, and Anthony Ervin.
"I'm so excited to partner with FINIS!" McLaughlin said of her new sponsor. "FINIS is innovative, fun, and loves the water as much as I do."
Man... does it not seem like (to anyone else) that for such an extraordinary trio of athletes, Thleen, Amy, and Katie have battled a disproportionate amount of health/injury setbacks? (Though, thinking about their pal Ella, perhaps the class of '19 has, as a whole, fought a few downs on the lead-ups to international stages):
Regan Smith led the race from the start, pushing through fatigue as Kathleen Baker gained on her during the last 25 meters. Smith touched first at 2:06.16 while Baker's lunge forward earned her a PB and 2020 World #3 time of 2:06.46. Baker was just three-tenths off her lifetime best of 2:06.14.
18-year old Regan Smith picked up her 2nd win of the meet with a 58.18 to break her own Pro Swim Series Record in the 100 back. The time is the second-fastest of her career, behind only the World Record that she set at last summer's World Championship meet on a relay leadoff.
The prior World Record holder, Kathleen Baker, was 2nd in 58.56, which is also a career in-season best for her.
Olivia Smoliga, who was 3rd in this race at last summer's World Championship meet, was 3rd on Saturday as well in 59.25.
HONEST OBSERVER : "One of the striking things about this (incredible) meet was how many great second and third place finishes there were, swims that for the most part seemed to go under the radar. In Baker's events, most of the buzz was about Regan Smith - and rightfully so - but Baker's performances, especially this 100 breast, indicate that she's going to be a serous challenger in the 200 IM at Trials, and if she makes it, at the Olympics. She's also going to be a huge threat in the backstrokes; Smith is the favorite, as she should be, but she's going to have to be at the top of her game to hold Baker off, especially in the 100.
Another swim which flew under the radar: Seliskar's 200 IM of 1:58.01. After that event, all the talk was of Michael Andrew, again understandably so, but Seliskar is now a very serious threat to make the team in this event. He had a great 200 free and 100 fly here too, and some of the other contenders don't seem to currently be at their best, with Trials only three and a half months away. Andrew, Foster, and Seliskar *are* at the top of their games, and it should make for a great dogfight. (Andrews would appear to have the lead now, but given the different styles of training/competing, Seliskar and Foster should drop a little more when they peak and shave. Also, they may be a little better suited for the three rounds schedule.)
Finally, Nathan Adrian's 21.88 flew a little under the radar, with all the talk about Dressel and Hayden, but that was Adrian's best 50 in a while, and it makes him seem like a serious contender for both sprints come June. Some would say he'd never been out of contention, but really, after his illness, his chances appeared to have dimmed a bit. But now they've brightened again."
