Katie McLaughlin Ready For “Exciting” 200 Fly Final (SW Radio)

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Though she had a strong swim in the semifinals of the 200 butterfly at the FINA world championships, American Katie McLaughlin knows she made some crucial errors that she aims to fix for tonight’s final.

“The problem with my race was I was not doing my own race,” she said. “I was telling myself to back off a little bit at the beginning because I was too fast this morning. I think it’s important for me to stay in my own lane and be out how I usually am than try to hold back a little bit.”

Listen To Interview On Swimming World

Katie McLaughlin 200 fly semi-400 mixed medley relay

McLaughlin gives props to teammate Cammile Adams, who McLaughlin said “I couldn’t do it without her.” Adams will be one of McLaughlin’s seven rivals once the race starts, and McLaughlin said the times on the scoreboard for the medalists could be wide-ranging, which she says makes the thought of swimming in the race “exciting” and “nerve-wracking.”

“Everyone’s been so close (in time range),” she said. “It could be anything from a (2:05) to a (2:07). I have no clue.”

McLaughlin was the only swimmer in the 200 fly semifinals to compete in the mixed medley relay final the same night. Not only was she swimming in her first mixed relay, but she was also making a major transition from the 200 fly to the 100 fly for her relay duty.

“Being in the ready room with my teammates definitely gets you pumped up and makes you feel like you can do something,” she said. “If I were in there by myself after a (200) fly I would have (said), ‘Oh, God, what’s going to come?’”

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