Dylan Carter Aims For Fast Finish at Pac-12s and NCAAs

USC's Dylan Carter. Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold

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By Dan D’Addona.

Dylan Carter spent a year training mostly alone.

Carter qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimming for Trinidad & Tobago, and was on his own.

But the second he got back to USC, the senior (redshirt junior) was thrilled to be in a team atmosphere.

“The whole college swimming thing, that is what it is all about. It is the only meet in the world where it is actually about a team. You can swim for your country but you win Olympic gold on your own,” Carter said. “Swimming for Trinidad & Tobago, I am never going to have this team atmosphere again in my life. I am all for the relays and all for the points for the team and school that has supported me so much.

“This year, I think the Olympics gave me the drive to come back and ride on the energy of my teammates.”

Carter is having a phenomenal season. He has the second-fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle (1:32.61) and fourth-fastest time in the nation in the 100-yard freestyle (42.07). He leads the Trojans into this weeks’ Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Wash.

“I feel really good. I am ready to have the collegiate season of my life. I am really hitting my pace well in practice and I feel super strong and confident. But that being said, I know that I am going up against guys who came back from Rio with Olympic gold,” Carter said.

That is Florida’s Maxime Rooney in the 200 freestyle, who has the top time at 1:32.18, and Florida’s Caeleb Dressel in the 100 freestyle (41.24).

“We all know that Caeleb is good. But I don’t think anyone is scared of him. He is way faster and it looks like no one can challenge him. But we have some guys that will have more of a race then people thing,” Carter said. “The hardest place to be is in first because everyone is aiming for you.”

Carter said there is a chance he might only swim the 100 and 200 freestyle events, so he can swim on every relay.

But it will be different at Pac-12s.

“As a team, we want to really perform at Pac-12s,” he said. “We have some real big goals for NCAAs, and aren’t just going for broke at conference.”

Carter seems to be having even more success in short course than he has in long course. But he said that was part of his natural progression.

“I don’t want to speak too soon because I am feeling really good about transitioning this into world championships this summer,” he said. “I have some big goals. I am trying to have a breakout short-course season and transition into a breakout long-course season.”

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Stephanie

7 years ago

its nice that you recognize your school and appreciate that getting a good education is of paramount importance also.
Keep up the hard work and enjoy the season. By the way do you have a girlfriend youre the best looking swimmer ive ever seen.