The Week That Was: US Announces World Championships Team

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The Week That Was, Sponsored by Suitmate

The Week That Was featured an incredible amount of swims from the U.S. Team Trials, the announcement of Natalie Coughlin being inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and more.

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The Week That Was #1: USA Swimming Announces Team Heading to World Championships in Budapest

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by David Rieder

At the conclusion of the U.S. International Team Trials in Greensboro, N.C., USA Swimming announced the group of swimmers that will represent the country at this summer’s FINA World Championships in Budapest. The swimming portion of the meet will be held June 18-25 at the Duna Arena, the same site that hosted the Worlds in 2017.

Highlighting the U.S. roster are Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel. Ledecky earned Trials victories in the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle, and in her fifth Worlds this year, she will look to add to her collection of 18 World Championships medals, including 15 gold. Dressel will head to his third World Championships after he won the 50 and 100 free and 50 and 100 butterfly this week in Greensboro. Dressel has won 15 World Championship medals between 2017 and 2019, including 13 gold.

The Week That Was #2: Claire Curzan Fulfilled Immense Promise at U.S. International Team Trials

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by David Rieder

After this week’s U.S. International Team Trials in Greensboro, the question “What can Claire Curzan do?” has become obsolete. Now, we know. After a year of watching Curzan flash her potential across a wide range of events, she has now proven herself with all the best swimmers in the nation peaking, at an all-important selection meet.

Of course, Curzan showed flashes of her brilliance when she qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the 100 butterfly last year and then when she collected six medals at the Short Course World Championships. But this week, Curzan went head-to-head with the best swimmers in the country over a wide range of sprint events, and she has finished first or second in all four of her events so far, with a possible fifth to come.

The Week That Was #3: Natalie Coughlin – 3-Time Olympian, 12-Time Olympic Medalist – To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by Meg Keller-Marvin

Natalie  Coughlin was a U.S. competitive swimmer, three-time Olympian and twelve-time Olympic medalist (3 Gold, 4 S, 5 B).  She attended UC Berkeley, swimming for the Golden Bears under Coach Teri McKeever. Natalie became the first woman to swim the 100-meter backstroke, long course, in less than one minute in 2002.

She achieved that milestone at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex during the U.S. Nationals in Fort Lauderdale.  At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Natalie became the first U.S. female athlete in modern Olympic history to win six medals in one Olympiad and the first woman ever to win a 100-meter backstroke gold in two consecutive Games.  She competed in her third Olympic Games in London in 2012, where she earned a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

The Week That Was #4: Claire Weinstein Breaks Through, Becomes Youngest U.S. Swimmer on Worlds Team Since 2007 

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by David Rieder

In one length of freestyle, Claire Weinstein stamped her arrival on the national level. She was racing in the final of the women’s 200 freestyle at the U.S. International Team Trials following a brilliant prelims swim where she dropped eight tenths from her lifetime best. That earned her the lane next to superstar Katie Ledecky in the final.

And in that final, Weinstein split 29.34 on the final length to move from fifth place to second, passing a trio of Olympians, Alex WalshLeah Smith and Sandpipers of Nevada teammate Bella Sims. Weinstein finished in 1:57.08, another time drop of more than a half-second. The swim was good enough for second place, good enough to secure the honor of representing the U.S. in the event at this summer’s World Championships.

All from a swimmer who just turned 15 years old in March.

The Week That Was #5: U.S. International Team Trials: Katie Ledecky Breaks 4:00 for 400 Free Victory; Leah Smith Adds Second Individual Event for Worlds

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by David Rieder

As usual, Katie Ledecky left no doubt. Since placing third in the 400 freestyle as a 15-year-old at the 2012 Olympic Trials, Ledecky has not lost the race on a domestic level, and the only swimmer who has beaten her at all is Australia’s Ariarne Titmus. And after collecting a win in the event at U.S. International Team Trials in Greensboro, Ledecky will head back to the World Championships and attempt to reclaim the title she lost to Titmus in 2019.

In the final, Bella Sims and Leah Smith were close to Ledecky for the first 100 meters, but before Ledecky quickly opened up a lead. Ledecky was out in 1:59.02 at the 200-meter mark, and then the world-record holder and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the event changed gears. Her back-half split of 2:00.50 helped her grow the lead to more than 3.5 seconds. Ledecky finished in 3:59.52, the fastest time in the world so far in 2022 ahead of Titmus’ season best of 4:00.03. Ledecky’s swim was the 21st-fastest performance in history, with Titmus and Federica Pellegrini (in a full-body polyurethane suit) as the only other swimmers who have ever been quicker.

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