Going With the Flow Works for Record-Breaking Kevin Doo By Swimming World Intern Rachel Emodi

By Swimming World Intern Rachel Emodi

Check out all of the 2013 CeraVe Invitational race videos, features and daily recaps on the 2013 CeraVe Invitational Event Landing Page.

PICASTAWAY, New Jersey, January 13. KEVIN Doo, a fourteen-year old swimmer for Scarlet Aquatics, says he like to just “go with the flow.” While following this laid-back mentality, Doo surprised even himself at the afternoon session on the second day of the CeraVe Invitational when he took the Men's 13-14 200 LC Meter Butterfly meet record. A swimmer since age eight, Doo began his swimming career at X-Cel Swimming, then joined Scarlet Aquatics in 2010, and has enjoyed much success since then.

“I don't really prepare myself. I just get in and swim,” Doo says. This relaxed approach proved successful for him today, as he dropped almost four seconds from his seed time of 2:15.97 to take the meet record with a final time of 2:12.39. Doo broke the record by almost one second, beating Zachary Tower's 2012 time of 2:13.25.

“A definite long term goal for me is the Olympics. Definite,” Doo declared. However, for the CeraVe Invitational, his only goals were to “get a best time and have fun. That's basically it.”

Doo cited the 200 m butterfly as one of his “favorite” events, and is looking forward to success in his next events, which include the 400 m individual medley, the 200 m backstroke, the 400 m freestyle, and the 100 m butterfly.

According to his coach, Tom Speedling, Doo is “…versatile. He can do any stroke. We don't know what he's going to wind up [swimming] in the future, so for now we're concentrating on how he develops.”

Development includes requiring that Doo does not swim on his high school team once he enters as a freshman next fall. Speedling has high aspirations for Doo; also stating that one of his long-term goals for the young swimmer is to see him qualify for the Olympic Trials in 2016.

“We just want him to keep improving. We focus on long course meets at the end of the summer [season], so [the CeraVe Invitational] is a good change of pace for the swimmers. It's the middle of the season,” Speedling said.
Breaking records at this point in the season is a great indicator for the remainder of Doo's winter season, and Speedling called this unexpected swim and consequent record “a bonus.”

“I don't know. It's still sinking in,” Doo replied when asked how it feels to hold the meet record. This laid-back approach led Doo to a strong fourth place in the 13-14 boys 100 m freestyle, with a final time of 59.01, and fifth place in the 400m individual medley, with a personal best of 5:00.59.

It's safe to say that Doo expects “the flow” will help him enjoy continued success in his events on the last day of the CeraVe Invitational.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

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

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x