{"id":467947,"date":"2021-04-01T10:00:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T17:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=467947"},"modified":"2021-04-02T08:51:31","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T15:51:31","slug":"swimming-world-presents-a-voice-for-the-sport-teenage-tradition-at-trials-by-john-lohn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swimming-world-presents-a-voice-for-the-sport-teenage-tradition-at-trials-by-john-lohn\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming World Presents – A Voice For The Sport: Teenage Tradition At Trials – By John Lohn"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest issue of Swimming World Magazine<\/em><\/span>
\nis now available for download in the<\/span> Swimming World Vault<\/span><\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n

Non-Subscribers Can Download This Issue Here <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

A Voice For The Sport: Teenage Tradition At Trials<\/span><\/h1>\n

By John Lohn<\/span><\/p>\n

As much as change is a constant in the world, some things have remained steady through the years. When it comes to Olympic campaigns and the opportunity for Team USA to build its latest high-powered squad, there is little doubt a teenage standout\u2014or maybe a few\u2014will be part of the Red, White and Blue parade to the starting blocks.<\/p>\n

Although the sport has certainly undergone a shift in recent years, with athletes logging longer careers, the tradition of teenage phenoms on the American roster has not crumbled. Names such as Donna de Varona, Debbie Meyer and Katie Ledecky are part of the United States\u2019 youthful fabric, each having been crowned an Olympic champion in her teens.<\/p>\n

While de Varona made her Olympic debut as a 13-year-old at the 1960 Games in Rome, it was her gold medal in the 400 individual medley in 1964 that defined her greatness. As for Meyer, she was a triple-freestyle champion at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City\u2014a feat pulled off as a 16-year-old and not matched until Ledecky also won the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Four years earlier, Ledecky emerged as a 15-year-old star in London, capturing the Olympic title in the 800 freestyle.<\/p>\n

So, how will this summer unfold? Will the teenage tradition continue for the United States?<\/p>\n

The truth is, there should be a major veteran presence for the American women, who will be coached by Stanford\u2019s Greg Meehan. The likes of Ledecky, Simone Manuel and Lilly King have been cornerstones for the United States and will be in Tokyo, barring a stunning upset. The international experience of Melanie Margalis and Hali Flickinger is also expected to dot the roster.<\/p>\n

Still, there is room for a surging teen to earn a ticket to Tokyo, and we\u2019re not talking about someone like Regan Smith, who will be 19 at the United States Olympic Trials and figures to be a headliner for her country for years to come. Nor are we talking about someone like Torri Huske (Stanford) or Gretchen Walsh (Virginia), current high school seniors who are headed for major collegiate programs.<\/p>\n

Rather, we\u2019re looking for a high-school-aged kid who isn\u2019t yet bound for the college scene. Just two months shy of Trials, the top choice to fill this traditional role is 16-year-old Claire Curzan, a burgeoning star from North Carolina who will be one of the top challengers to qualify for Tokyo in the 100 meter butterfly and could also be a factor in the sprint-freestyle events and 100 backstroke.<\/p>\n

Maybe Bella Sims has a chance in the 800 freestyle. Perhaps Charlotte Hook can secure a Team USA berth in the 200 butterfly. It\u2019s possible another athlete will emerge, someone currently off the radar who will peak at the right moment. It happens every quadrennial, and there is no reason to believe it won\u2019t happen this summer, too.<\/p>\n

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a one-year postponement of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the delay can actually be considered a door-opening opportunity for these teenage hopefuls. Last summer, Curzan, for example, was talented enough to qualify for the final of the 100 butterfly. Yet, she was not near her current position of favorite, which was earned by a 56.61 performance in late 2020.<\/p>\n

In teenagers, improvement arcs can be significant, and bring an athlete from the cusp of a breakthrough to a career-changing moment. This tendency, then, suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has not only altered daily lives, but will affect the makeup of the next United States Olympic team.<\/p>\n

When the U.S. Trials are held in Omaha for the fourth time, surprises are bound to happen, such as a favorite being left home. It\u2019s also safe to bet on a young teenage female qualifying for the Olympic Games and realizing a dream earlier than anticipated.<\/p>\n

Hey, it\u2019s tradition.<\/p>\n

John Lohn<\/span>
\nAssociate Editor-in-Chief<\/strong> <\/span>
\nSwimming World Magazine<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

To check out the full issue of Swimming World’s April 2021 issue, <\/span>click here to download now!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Swimming<\/a><\/p>\n

[PHOTO CREDIT: MINE KASAPOGLU\/ISL]<\/p>\n

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<\/h1>\n

Swimming World April 2021 Issue<\/span><\/h1>\n

FEATURES<\/p>\n

012 A PANDEMIC PERSPECTIVE FROM MASTERS SWIMMIN<\/span>G<\/strong>
\nby Dan D\u2019Addona<\/strong>
\nMasters swimmers maintain a connection to the sport they love as well as to their team and community. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that connection has been missing the past year, but they are ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.<\/p>\n

017 DEATH, TAXES…AND INDIAN RIVER!<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Andy Ross<\/strong>
\nIndian River State College will be shooting for its 47th straight men\u2019s and 39th consecutive women\u2019s NJCAA team titles.<\/p>\n

018 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: SPRINT TSAR<\/strong><\/span>
\nby John Lohn<\/strong>
\nAs Swimming World continues its \u201cTakeoff to Tokyo\u201d series, the opportunity to examine the career of Russia\u2019s Alexander Popov\u2014accomplishments and approach\u2014is the chance to pay tribute to a man who might be the greatest sprinter the sport has ever seen.<\/p>\n

021 COUNT ON CHINA<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Dan D\u2019Addona<\/strong>
\nBased on the results of the last eight Olympics\u2014and the most recent World Championships held two years ago\u2014China would be a good bet to once again dominate the diving competition, July 23-Aug. 8, at the 2021 Games in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

022 EVER THE COMPETITOR<\/strong><\/span>
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nFive years after her public introduction to the world at the Rio Olympics, little has changed about Lilly King. She will still speak her mind, tell you how she really feels, and she\u2019s still a winner, a dominant force in sprint breaststroke.<\/p>\n

025 THE GREATEST OF THEIR GENERATION<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Bruce Wigo<\/strong>
\nThe General Slocum steamship disaster\u00a0 in 1904, the tragedy that changed swimming history, had an impact on two of the greatest swimming heroes of all time, Johnny Weissmuller and Charles Robert Drew.<\/p>\n

028 NUTRITION: FUELING FOR COMPETITION\u2014THE \u201cCHERRY ON TOP!\u201d<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Dawn Weatherwax<\/strong>
\nAthletes spend hours upon hours training. It is now time to put the sports nutrition piece all together when it matters most. A big part of the plan is to know what, when and how much to eat and drink before, during and after the event.<\/p>\n

COACHING<\/p>\n

014 FAST AND FURIOUS<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong>
\nCollege coaches Braden Holloway (NC State), Todd DeSorbo (Virginia), Matt Kredich (Tennessee) and Jessen Book (Kenyon) share their ideas on how they help their swimmers maximize turn speed.<\/p>\n

038 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: APPLYING MECHANICAL PRINCIPLES TO IMPROVE SWIMMING TECHNIQUE<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Rod Havriluk<\/strong>
\nMany swimmers attempt to swim faster by modeling the technique of the fastest swimmers. Using champions as models is an archaic approach of painstakingly slow, trial-and-error that risks adopting technique limitations. A far superior approach is to apply mechanical principles that eliminate uncertainty and accelerate the skill-learning process.<\/p>\n

043 Q&A WITH COACH MEGAN OESTING<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n

044 HOW THEY TRAIN DIGGORY DILLINGHAM<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n

TRAINING<\/p>\n

037 DRYSIDE TRAINING: PUSHING POWER<\/strong><\/span>
\nby J.R. Rosania<\/strong><\/p>\n

JUNIOR SWIMMER<\/p>\n

040 GOLDMINDS:\u00a0 LEARN HOW TO BE A RACER<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Wayne Goldsmith<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s important to learn how to swim your event in such a way that you can perform to your potential in every possible racing situation, including different strategies for heats, semifinals and finals.<\/p>\n

047 UP & COMERS: DANIEL DIEHL<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Shoshanna Rutemiller<\/strong><\/p>\n

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS<\/p>\n

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

011 DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT THE STORY OF THE AUMAKUA?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

030 2021 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

046 DADS ON DECK: BRENT BILQUIST<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

048 GUTTERTALK<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

049 PARTING SHOT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n