Grevers, Adrian, Beisel, Meili Named Team USA Captains for World Champs

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The U.S. team bound for the FINA World Championships in Budapest has named its four captains: Matt Grevers and Nathan Adrian for the men and Elizabeth Beisel and Katie Meili for the women.

Grevers, Adrian and Beisel are all veterans in the captain’s role, with both Adrian and Beisel having jointly led the Olympic swim team last summer. The other four captains from that Olympic team, Michael Phelps, Anthony Ervin, Allison Schmitt and Cammile Adams, are all absent from the Worlds team.

This year’s meet will mark Grevers’ fourth World Championships, Adrian’s fifth and Beisel’s sixth. For Meili, it is her first, as last year’s Olympics was her debut on a senior U.S. international squad.

The U.S. team is departing Wednesday from training camp in Opatija, Croatia, to head to Budapest.

Introducing your #TeamUSA captains for #FINABudapest2017: @MattGrevers, @Nathangadrian, @Katie_Meili and @ebeisel34! ???? pic.twitter.com/WG1cdchaJo

— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 18, 2017

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Halim Yussuf

6 years ago

Team USA is in capable hands.

Suzie Thompson

6 years ago

Star studded cast! Good leaders from great programs!
Reputable, real, authentic.
Kids, pay attention.

Susan L. Lansbury

6 years ago

Good choices!

Stephanie Miller Mindlin

6 years ago

We love Matt! Such a great guy and role model.

Carlotta Schmittgen

6 years ago

Way to go Katie!!

Therese Collette Campbell

6 years ago

woo hoo! Congrats Matt!

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

HOW are these CAPTAINS picked…by the coaches or the team…because if it’s by the coaches..somethings wrong….or have time changed that much…Captains used to be some of the best players on the team…….or is it based on AGE..???….because its NOT based on MERIT….3 of 4 CAPTAINS on the team in 1 event….and thats being nice…..KL has MORE international medals//// all but 1 GOLD…and shes not a CAPTAIN because she DESERVES it or is it because shes to young and a VICTIM of her success….or are they waiting til shes in her 30’s and washed up…oh thats right she will retire being the GREATEST female swimmer of all time…..just saying

AvidSwimFan

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Maloney

Actually, the only person swimming 1 event is Biesel. Every other person is swimming 2 individual events and most likely more because of relays (4×100 free, 4×100 medley, 4×100 mixed free in addition to 100 and 50 free individually for Adrian, 4×100 medley, 4×100 mixed medley plus 50 and 100 back individually for Grevers, 4X100 medley, and 50 and 100 breast individually for Meili). Being that Beisel has had the longest experience as a member of the Team USA at Worlds, plus reports from Rio was that Beisel was an excellent Team Captain and cheerleader for the Team (she got an award for it at the golden googles last year), it is no surprise she got it again. I might have expected that Lia Neal would have gotten the second female spot over Meili, but then the team voted otherwise.

Plus, just because Ledecky is the most decorated/impressive member of the team right now doesn’t make her a good captain. One might argue that she doesn’t need the added responsibility since her schedule is so jam-packed. Phelps didn’t have Olympic captain status until this last trip to Rio despite being the most decorated Olympian.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Reply to AvidSwimFan

The reason Michael wasnt a Captain before RIO is because he was suspended twice.. and had pics of Him with WEED….not something TEAM USA promotes…He was Capt in RIO because it’s his last olympics…and about the rest of your statement..they made the team in 1 event…..KL was 7th in the 100 at OT and she swam the Anchor for that race in Rio…so its purely a COACHES choice…We can revisit this after next week to see how well OUR Captains preformed…..nuff said….and psst most people CONSIDER the OH I got a medal for swimming the heats….as bs….just saying

USASwim

6 years ago

The national team athletes vote for their captains. Men for men, women for women.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Reply to USASwim

thank you…so it is a sympathy vote for older basically non medal contenders…lol

Danny B

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Maloney

Michael Maloney I don’t think you understand that being a captain and a leader are completely different from being the most talented individual. If you knew the swimmers on this team you would know they all love each of these captains and are true role models to all the younger swimmers. If the athletes vote the captains in that’s not by sympathy, that’s by value and respect.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

DANNY B…..value and respect……For Meili, it is her first, as last year’s Olympics was her debut on a senior U.S. international squad………..HOW is this VALUE and RESPECT…..its about age…..nothing else…..thus sympathy vote imho…..if Missy Franklin was on this team would meili be a capt…..no….same if schmitty were on the team….just saying..if its not based on MERIT its a POPULARITY CONTEST….thus a SYMPATHY vote for OLDER SWIMMERS who might not medal…..except for adrian….who is the ONLY older olympian MALE who will WIN…just saying

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David Rieder - Senior Writer

6 years ago

Reply to Michael Maloney

Michael, I strongly disagree with your points here. This title means something. I wrote at Nationals how it was a good thing for the U.S. team to have Beisel around this year, and that wasn’t just making stuff up. She is incredibly valuable as a captain. On day one of the Olympics last year, David Marsh said to me, “She’s looking forward to today (i.e., her 400 IM), but she’s also looking forward to tomorrow.”

I was surprised to see MP named a captain last year, but he proved his value and leadership at camp in a way he hadn’t before. Grevers and Adrian, proven leaders, so was no surprise to see them captains. I haven’t spoken with anyone on the Worlds team since they left for training camp, but I’ll bet Meili naturally emerged in that sort of role. Wouldn’t surprise me, knowing Katie.

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

Reply to David Rieder - Senior Writer

David..I’m not going to argue anymore on this subject..going to be to busy enjoying the next week..I guess we just have a DIFFERENT idea of what a CAPTAIN should be….Me….Captain Kirk….the rest of you Capt Morgan…..lol…just saying