A Voice For The Sport: The Most Demanding Meet In The World

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A Voice For The Sport: The Most Demanding Meet In The World

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A Voice For The Sport: The Most Demanding Meet In The World

By John Lohn

This assessment might be lost on the non-American crowd. See, it is kind of difficult to comprehend from afar, or without a true sense of what the United States possesses in the pool.

As this column is penned, the United States Olympic Trials are about to begin their fourth day at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. Already, agony and ecstasy have appeared on deck, where there is a frequent intersection of conflicting emotions. From athletes to coaches to family members, there have been plenty of smiles and frowns.

The tears that Regan Smith shed after winning the 100 meter backstroke—and earning her first Olympic invitation—were a combination of joy and relief. Conversely, Kelsi Dahlia walked the same deck after finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly, her tears from the pain of missing out on a return trip to the Olympic Games. Countless others, too, have swayed in one direction or the other.

As much as the Olympic Games define the greatest athletes in the sport, and where the pinnacle performers seek to peak, they must get there first.

Qualifying to represent the United States can be considered a more difficult task than reaching the Olympic podium, such is the pressure that hovers over the pool. In no way is this opinion suggesting there is a lack of pressure at the Olympics. That would be a laughable take. Rather, American swimmers must successfully navigate a gauntlet like no other in the world to simply earn a spot on the Team USA roster.

“Going forward, I’m just excited to kind of have some of the pressure off my back and just enjoy the experience, enjoy being here, enjoy getting some more practice racing against some great girls,” Smith said, following her victory in the 100 backstroke at the U.S. Trials. “I think it will be a lot of fun over these next couple of days, instead of a lot of stress like these past few days have been.”

Think about that quote for a moment. Smith is a world record holder, a world champion and one of the most gifted athletes in the sport. Yet, she admitted feeling the pressure of Trials and exhaled hugely after her work was done. The honesty of the Stanford recruit is refreshing, and proof that no one is immune to the squeeze Trials can place on an individual.

Here and there, other countries have events with impressive depth, such as Australia and its trio of sub-3:44 stars in the 400 freestyle. In the United States, though, there are very few events in which there are not multiple Olympic-final contenders. And with only two athletes selected for each event, medal hopefuls are routinely locked out, forced to watch the Games on television—if they can stomach it.

Through 1980, countries were allotted three berths in each Olympic event, only to have that rule changed to two-per-nation beginning in 1984. That guideline, for the record, is not going anywhere in the future. With that change, wiggle room at the U.S. Trials was severely limited and the pressure to earn a Team USA slot went up exponentially.

If there is a positive to the situation, it is the inarguable fact that when athletes wearing the Stars and Stripes reach the Olympics, they are sharpened warriors. While they must deal with formidable international foes, they have been tested and are typically more comfortable than they were at Trials. Little fazes them about the environment. Simply, they are ready to compete.

Future United States Olympic Trials will be no different than the most recent edition, or those that preceded it. There will be an equal share of feel-good stories and tales of heartache. An equal share of smiles and tears. For better or worse, it is a trademark of a meet that is the most demanding in the world.

John Lohn
Editor-in-Chief
Swimming World Magazine


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FEATURES

010  |  TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES: READY FOR IMPACT
by Dan D’Addona, Matthew De George, John Lohn, David Rieder and Andy Ross
As the United States was still selecting its Olympic swimming team in mid-June, most countries had already decided who would be competing at the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed Olympic Games this summer. Here are profiles of 10 swimmers from around the world who have been preparing to make an impact in Tokyo.

022  |  TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: ICONIC MOMENTS IN OLYMPIC HISTORY
by John Lohn
In October of 2019, nearly a year prior to the original date of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Swimming  World designed a series that would pay homage to the history of the sport on its biggest stage. For our final installment of “Takeoff to Tokyo,” we offer a look at some of the most prominent moments in Olympic lore.

026  |  AS GOOD AS IT GETS
by Dan D’Addona
In our Olympic preview of artistic swimming, Swimming World notes that Russia is a perfect 10-for-10, winning every Olympic gold medal possible—duet and team—since the turn of the century. Led by Svetlana Romashina and Svetlana Kolesnichenko, Russia will be tough to beat next month, Aug. 2-7, in Tokyo.

COACHING

20  |  SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: MAXIMIZING SWIMMING VELOCITY (Part 3)—MINIMIZING THE ARM ENTRY PHASE TIME IN FREESTYLE AND BUTTERFLY
by Rod Havriluk
The non-propulsive time in a stroke cycle consists of the time for the entry phase and the recovery phase. This article presents strategies to minimize the entry phase time for freestyle and butterfly so that a swimmer can decrease stroke cycle time, increase stroke rate and increase swimming velocity.

040  |  A COACHES’ GUIDE TO ENERGY SYSTEMS (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
Last month, Swimming World explored the concept of energy systems and how coaches can use them to maximize athlete development and performance. In Part 2, we examine how one incorporates his understanding of energy systems into a seasonal training plan.

042  |  Q&A WITH COACH SID CASSIDY
by Michael J. Stott

043  |  HOW THEY TRAIN MEGAN MORONEY AND ASPEN GERSPER
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

019   |  DRYSIDE TRAINING:  SUMMER SPEED
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

45  |  UP & COMERS:  KAYLA HAN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008  |  A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

018  |  THE OFFICIAL WORD

027  |  2021 AQUATIC DIRECTORY

046  |  GUTTERTALK

047  |  PARTING SHOT

Swimming World is now partnered with the International Swimming Hall of Fame. To find out more, visit us at ishof.org

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