{"id":212736,"date":"2016-07-18T18:00:16","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T01:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=212736"},"modified":"2016-07-18T09:18:17","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T16:18:17","slug":"6-reasons-to-love-olympian-katie-meili","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/6-reasons-to-love-olympian-katie-meili\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Reasons to Love Olympian Katie Meili"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kennedy Cutler, Swimming World College Intern<\/em><\/p>\n

With just over two weeks left until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, there’s someone who’s been having quite a run in the swimming-sphere in the last year and a half.\u00a0Katie Meili<\/strong><\/a>, who finished second at the United States Olympic Team Trials in the women’s 100 meter breaststroke just a few weeks ago, is one of 30 rookie Olympians who will be representing Team USA in the pool in Rio.<\/p>\n

Here are some fun facts about Meili\u00a0that make her an all-around lovable person and will make you want to get behind her lane when\u00a0the starting beep goes off…<\/p>\n

1. Social media presence.<\/h3>\n
\"katie-meili-blog\"

Photo Courtesy: Katie Meili<\/p><\/div>\n

Meili has her own\u00a0blog<\/a>\u00a0where she accounts some of her experiences, including national and international level meets she’s participated in, and some more laid-back adventures with family and friends. While the entries on her blog are only occasional, she has a more active presence found on both Twitter <\/a>and Instagram<\/a>. No matter how you choose to follow her, you’ll find yourself with a preview of her life.<\/p>\n

2. Teammates with past and present Olympians.<\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel\/USA Today Sports Images<\/p><\/div>\n

Meili is a member of SwimMac Team Elite, which is the home of\u00a0Olympic greats such as Ryan<\/strong> Lochte<\/strong>, Kara Lynn Joyce<\/strong> and Cullen Jones<\/strong>.. Her teammates have always been loved for their contributions to Team USA and have been popular with the fans, so it only makes sense that Meili will be as well. It’s a common thought\u00a0that it is the team that makes the swimmer after all.<\/p>\n

3. Animal lover.<\/h3>\n
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It looks like Boo is a big sister! Welcome to the fam, Ford! ?? #germanshorthairedpointer<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by Katie Meili (@katiemeili) on