Amy Bilquist Looking to Build on Her First ISL Victory for DC Trident

Photo Courtesy: Mike Lewis / ISL

Amy Bilquist joined the DC Trident because she saw the team’s energy in the inaugural International Swimming League (ISL) season, and wanted to be a part of it.

But with a team that is without Katie Ledecky, Natalie Coughlin and Cody Miller for the season, Bilquist was immediately one of the faces of the Trident.

Bilquist wanted to go out and prove that she was ready to be that face, that leader for the group.

In her first race in the DC Trident red, Bilquist won the 200 backstroke in 2:02.23, the first win of her ISL career, and a statement.

“Winning was so awesome. I really wanted to come out of the gates and try to shift the momentum for DC with a big swim,” Amy Bilquist told Swimming World. “Personally, it felt pretty good. That was my first race since the ISL finals (as a member of the LA Current) back in Dec 2019 so to be able to break into racing again with a win was a huge personal victory for me.

“Obviously I was really excited to get that first win of my ISL career but there are going to be a lot of meets coming up against amazing swimmers so as much fun as it was to celebrate I have to keep my eyes on the next meet as well.”

Bilquist, who won the U.S. national title in the 100 backstroke in 2019, took that next mentality into the second DC Trident meet and swam even faster in the 200 backstroke, though she finished second in 2:01.72 behind Cali’s Beata Nelson (2:01.31).

The Trident finished third in the opening meet, but fourth this past weekend. The team is looking to itself for a boost.

“The atmosphere on DC is unparalleled. There is so much excitement in the box and that really, really helped me on my Day 1 when I had four events,” Bilquist said. “At some point I just had to let the energy feed me and help me get amped for my races. The pool atmosphere is different. There is no crowd which is unique but ISL is doing a great job to make it feel like there is. There’s lights, smoke, a DJ, etc. so there’s a lot of excitement even without a crowd.”

Plus the chemistry on a team that has seen a lot of turnover from last year is a work in progress. But the Trident are building the relationships that will help build energy on the pool deck.

Amy Bilquist. Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL

“DC is so welcoming. Within the first day I already felt so integrated with the team and so supported. It’s so amazing to also meet new people and make new friends. For example, Ky-lee Perry and I have raced so much in college but we never got to know each other and now we hang out all the time here,” Bilquist said. “So that’s been an amazing opportunity. The people on DC are truly amazing people (not just fantastic swimmers) so that makes this bubble time a lot more fun and light-hearted.”

The bubble is different than anything any swimmer has dealt with before, and each swimmer and team is making the most of it.

“The bubble is interesting. The first couple days were kind of hard but honestly now the weather has been sunny, we’ve been able to walk to the pool which is nice to get some outside time and they are doing a really good job of trying to keep us all safe and healthy,” Amy Bilquist said. “I’m just very grateful to even have an opportunity to be in the ISL bubble so that I can train, race, make new friends, and have fun.”

And help lead a second-half surge for the Trident this ISL season.

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