Performance of the Week: Katie McLaughlin’s Comeback 200 Freestyle

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

This week’s performance of the week doesn’t go to a swim that has shook up the world rankings. Instead, Swimming World wants to highlight Katie McLaughlin’s return to competition this past weekend at the TYR Fran Crippen Meet Of Champions following a brief hiatus to rehab a neck injury sustained on the Cal Bears training trip.

McLaughlin was lauded as one of the top recruits entering her freshman year. An individual medalist at the Pan Pacific Championships and a gold medalist as a part of the 800 free relay at World Championships in Kazan, McLaughlin had significant versatility and experience for her age. However, she struggled following an injury sustained in January, and returned to competition only right before Pac-12’s, where she ultimately finished outside of qualifying for NCAA’s.

The TYR Fran Crippen Meet Of Champions was her first competition since Pac-12’s, and McLaughlin grabbed first in the 200 freestyle in 1:59.74, just two seconds off her lifetime best that she recorded at this meet last year. Again, while that doesn’t have any major impact on the world rankings (or even the top four Americans this year), it shows a tremendous resiliency from the freshman following a less than ideal year. If McLaughlin can continue her return to form, she may be able to challenge for a relay spot next month at U.S. Trials. The Cal Bear also finished third in both the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly.

Congratulations Katie McLaughlin on earning Swimming World’s Performance Of The Week!

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