Ali DeLoof Eyes Another Breakout at U.S. National Championships

Ali DeLoof. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Editorial content for the USA Swimming Summer Nationals coverage is sponsored by TritonWear. Visit TritonWear.com for more information on our sponsor. For full Swimming World coverage, check event coverage page.

By Dan D’Addona.

Ali DeLoof went in to the 2016 Olympic trials uncertain of the future.

She had already graduated from Michigan and knew this meet could have been her last.

She certainly had a shot to make the U.S. Olympic team in the 100-meter backstroke, but with a field packed with names like Olivia Smoliga, Kathleen Baker, Natalie Coughlin and Missy Franklin, it was going to be tough.

DeLoof didn’t end up making the team, but finished high enough to qualify for the U.S. national team. Things started rolling from there for the late bloomer.

“In 2016 at trials, I was just going to swim the 100 back and see what happens. I did not think I would make the national team and I didn’t know I could be as god as I am today. I still have a lot left in the tank,” DeLoof said. “I really think that meet let me know there was something I could still do to be up there with the top swimmers.”

She went out and proved that by setting a short-course American record in the 50-meter backstroke in 26.57 to win at short-course worlds later in 2016 and was also part of a world record medley relay. She then won the event at the World University Games.

“The international competition helped shape me a ton. Being a part of short-course worlds was amazing and my first international meet, even though it was like 15 minutes from my house,” DeLoof said. “Winning the 50 back at WUGs was great. Having that international competition has given me a lot of confidence.”

Now, DeLoof is eyeing another breakout meet at the national level when she heads to the Phillips 66 USA National Championships from July 25-29 in Irvine, California.

“Nationals is going to be the big meet of the summer. I am looking forward to that, especially the 100 back,” she said.

DeLoof is coming off of a successful tune-up meet at the USA TYR Pro Swim Series in Columbus, Ohio, winning the 100 back.

“I think it is great,” DeLoof said of seeing so many other late-bloomers in the sport, something that didn’t happen in generations past. “USA Swimming has a lot of opportunities for us (postgrad swimmers) like these Pro Series meets. It is exciting. There are more people to race and swimming is getting exponentially better.

It was a big momentum boost heading into nationals, especially since she took four months off in the fall and early winter to focus on school and student teaching in a fourth-grade classroom.

“I love doing something bigger than myself, which is why I am getting into teaching. I took four months off at the beginning of the year because school was crazy. I got back into training in December,” she said. “It was definitely hard to get back into shape. I definitely focused on lifting more and getting stronger. Doing pilates outside of the pool has helped a lot, too. It was definitely hard at first. I liked being on a team and the team atmosphere. I definitely like training with the college team because it is better to train with people. I definitely have been working on my finishes. They have not been the best this year. They have been really long and I just haven’t been hitting them.”

Nationals will be a huge meet for DeLoof to gauge herself against the rest of the country, but it isn’t quite the career crossroads that the 2016 Olympic trials was.

“A lot of people asked me why I didn’t just go teach. I was getting ready to teach when I was done with swimming. I feel like I would have regretted it if I didn’t continue to swim. At nationals, I have gotten fourth, so I know I can be up there. My focus is having fun and still enjoying it. You can’t swim if you don’t like it,” she said. “I never really thought about being done with swimming because I have gotten so much better.I will swim until 2020. I want to try for the Olympics and see what happens. I don’t know anything past that.

“Hopefully I can make a national team this summer.”

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Karney McNear

5 years ago

Good luck Alexandra DeLoof!