Tennessee Freshman Charlotte Crush Making Instant Impact in Backstroke Events
At the first U.S. selection meet of this quad, teenager Charlotte Crush threw her name into the talented mix of American women’s backstrokers. In the 200-meter race, Crush dropped more than two seconds from her best time in prelims to take the top qualifying time into the final, and she ended up reaching the finals in the 100 back and 100 butterfly as well. She went on to capture four medals at the World Junior Championships, including gold in the 100 back.
Crush is the youngest of four siblings, all of whom trained at Lakeside Aquatic Club in Louisville, Ky., and all four have gone on to swim at Division I universities: Annabel at NC State, Charlie at Louisville, Johnny at Army and now Charlotte at Tennessee. Now, the youngest Crush has played a big role in the Lady Vols’ strong start to the season, which included a second-place finish at the College Swimming League championship meet last week.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
At that meet, Crush finished second in the 200 back in 1:48.79, behind only NCAA champion and American-record holder Claire Curzan. The time was the second-best of Crush’s career behind the 1:48.31 she recorded at Tennessee’s previous CSL meet two weeks earlier, which had jumped her to No. 13 on the all-time list. Minutes after the 200 back, Crush anchored Tennessee’s 200 freestyle relay in 21.04, eight tenths quicker than her flat-start best time in the event.
Her standout performance of the day would come in the 100 back as Crush shattered her best time with a 49.06, four tenths better than her best time from two years ago. Crush now ranks as the fifth-fastest swimmer in history, trailing the Olympic-medal-winning quartet of Gretchen Walsh, Curzan, Katharine Berkoff and Bella Sims. Crush completed her day with a runnerup effort in the 100 fly, clocking 50.29, and she handled backstroke duties for Tennessee in the super skins.
Now, Crush and Tennessee will look toward the spring championship season with one of the top rosters in the country. The Lady Vols return every major contributor from last year’s fifth-place team at the NCAA Championships, including standout freestyler (and first-time World Championships team member) Camille Spink, Pan Pacs-winning sprint breaststroker McKenzie Siroky, butterflyer and backstroker Mizuki Hirai, sprinter Jillian Crooks and the versatile duo of Ella Jansen and Emily Brown.
In her debut season, expect Crush to reach the championship final in all three of her individual events at the national level. Her skill set projects to racing the 200 back plus the 100 fly-100 back double, which will be back at this year’s NCAAs after a pair of event schedule switch-ups. Crush could end up racing the exact same lineup as Curzan this season, but top-three finishes will be within her grasp.
From there, Crush will have a tough task breaking through in long course in arguably the most competitive set of events for the American women. But if she is already swimming lifetime bests this early in her freshman year, Crush should be in position to challenge the veteran names at the next major selection meet next June.