Mitch D’Arrigo Will Swim in 200 Free Final at U.S. Nats, Not Eligible for Worlds

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Despite representing Italy at last summer’s Olympic Games, Mitch D’Arrigo will be eligible to swim in the 200 free final at the U.S. National Championships, but he will not be eligible to qualify for the World Championships.

USA Swimming has confirmed to Swimming World that D’Arrigo has dual Italian and American citizenship, and he is transitioning his national affiliation to be able to represent the U.S. Because D’Arrigo last competed for Italy at the Olympics, he has to sit out a year following that date before he can swim for the U.S.

The Olympic swimming competition ended Aug. 13, 2016, so D’Arrigo he can compete for any American team beginning Aug. 14, 2017. Since that date falls before the beginning of the World University Games (Aug. 20-26 in Taiwan), he could swim at that meet.

D’Arrigo recently completed his NCAA eligibility at the University of Florida, and he finished 23rd in the 200 free last summer in Rio. He qualified fifth in the 200 free prelims Wednesday morning at U.S. Nationals in 1:47.52.

USA Swimming typically selects the top six swimmers in the 200 free to go to the World Championships for relay purposes, so the seventh-place swimmer would be likely be picked for Worlds should D’Arrigo finish among the top six.

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