USA Swimming Names World Short Course Championship Team: Dressel, Baker Highlight

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming today finalized a decorated 35-swimmer lineup for the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), set for Dec. 11-16 in Hangzhou, China.

Team USA headliners include Olympic champions and current long-course backstroke world record-holders Kathleen Baker (Winston-Salem, N.C./Team Elite/Cal) and Ryan Murphy (Jacksonville, Fla./California Aquatics), as well as Olympic gold medalist and seven-time world champion Caeleb Dressel (Green Cove Springs, Fla./Bolles School Sharks/Florida) and 2012 Olympic 100-meter back champion Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill./Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics).

Baker joins Michael Andrew (Lawrence, Kan./Race Pace Club) with a team-high five individual event entries, while Dressel and Olympic medalist Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics) follow with four individual entries apiece.

The full roster, which features 18 Olympians, including 13 Olympic gold medalists, is available online at usaswimming.org.

Serving as head coaches in Hangzhou will be Brian Smith (Athens Bulldog Swim Club) on the women’s side and Dave Salo (Trojan Swim Club) for the men.

NBC will provide live coverage from the Dec. 11-16 event daily via the Olympic Channel from 7-9 a.m. EST.

Men’s Roster

*Red indicates captains

Michael Andrew, 50 free, 50/100 breast, 50 fly, 100 IM
Gunnar Bentz, 200 IM
Michael Chadwick, 4×100 free
Jack Conger, 100 fly
Kyle DeCoursey, 4×100 free
Caeleb Dressel, 50/100 free; 50/100 fly
Matt Grevers, 50/100 back
Zane Grothe, 400/1500 free
Zach Harting, 200 fly
Ryan Held, 4×100 free
Michael Jensen, 4×100 free
Ryan Murphy, 50/100/200 back
Jacob Pebley, 200 back
Blake Pieroni, 100/200 free
Josh Prenot, 200 breast, 200 IM
Kieran Smith, 400 IM
Andrew Wilson, 50/100/200 breast
Justin Wright, 200 fly

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Women’s Roster

*Red indicates captains

Haley Anderson, 400/800 free
Kathleen Baker, 50/100/200 back; 100/200 IM
Lisa Bratton, 200 back
Erika Brown, 4×100 free
Veronica Burchill, 4×100 free
Mallory Comerford, 50/100/200 free
Kelsi Dahlia, 50/100/200 fly
Bethany Galat, 200 breast
Molly Hannis, 50/100 breast
Madison Kennedy, 50 free
Annie Lazor, 200 breast
Melanie Margalis, 100/200/400 IM
Katie Meili, 50/100 breast
Lia Neal, 100 free
Leah Smith, 200/400/800 free; 400 IM
Olivia Smoliga, 50/100 back
Kendyl Stewart, 50/100 fly

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Notes:

Michael Andrew will look to defend his 100 IM title he won in 2016 while Jacob Pebley returns after winning silver in the 200 back two years ago.
Leah Smith won the 400 and 800 frees in Windsor in 2016 while Madison Kennedy won bronze in the 50 free. Kennedy is making her third World Short Course Championships appearance.
Molly Hannis won two bronze medals at the last Short Course Worlds in the 50 and 100 breast.
Kelsi Dahlia won three silver medals in the 50, 100 and 200 butterfly events in 2016.
Melanie Margalis won a bronze medal in the 200 IM at the 2014 short course World Championships while Matt Grevers won bronze in the 100 back. Grevers also won the 100 back at the 2012 short course Worlds
Olivia Smoliga won the 100 back at the 2012 Worlds as a high school senior, and this will be her first trip back to the meet.

The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with USA Swimming. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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Thomas A. Small

5 years ago

Congratulations

Melinda True

5 years ago

Congrats its Ryan Held,