{"id":480521,"date":"2021-07-02T04:00:09","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T11:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=480521"},"modified":"2021-07-03T14:39:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-03T21:39:59","slug":"a-voice-for-the-sport-the-most-demanding-meet-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/a-voice-for-the-sport-the-most-demanding-meet-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"A Voice For The Sport: The Most Demanding Meet In The World"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Voice For The Sport: The Most Demanding Meet In The World<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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A Voice For The Sport: The Most Demanding Meet In The World<\/span><\/h1>\n

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

This assessment might be lost on the non-American crowd. See, it is kind of difficult to comprehend from afar, or without a true sense of what the United States possesses in the pool.<\/p>\n

As this column is penned, the United States Olympic Trials are about to begin their fourth day at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. Already, agony and ecstasy have appeared on deck, where there is a frequent intersection of conflicting emotions. From athletes to coaches to family members, there have been plenty of smiles and frowns.<\/p>\n

The tears that Regan Smith shed after winning the 100 meter backstroke\u2014and earning her first Olympic invitation\u2014were a combination of joy and relief. Conversely, Kelsi Dahlia walked the same deck after finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly, her tears from the pain of missing out on a return trip to the Olympic Games. Countless others, too, have swayed in one direction or the other.<\/p>\n

As much as the Olympic Games define the greatest athletes in the sport, and where the pinnacle performers seek to peak, they must get there first.<\/p>\n

Qualifying to represent the United States can be considered a more difficult task than reaching the Olympic podium, such is the pressure that hovers over the pool. In no way is this opinion suggesting there is a lack of pressure at the Olympics. That would be a laughable take. Rather, American swimmers must successfully navigate a gauntlet like no other in the world to simply earn a spot on the Team USA roster.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing forward, I\u2019m just excited to kind of have some of the pressure off my back and just enjoy the experience, enjoy being here, enjoy getting some more practice racing against some great girls,\u201d Smith said, following her victory in the 100 backstroke at the U.S. Trials. \u201cI think it will be a lot of fun over these next couple of days, instead of a lot of stress like these past few days have been.\u201d<\/p>\n

Think about that quote for a moment. Smith is a world record holder, a world champion and one of the most gifted athletes in the sport. Yet, she admitted feeling the pressure of Trials and exhaled hugely after her work was done. The honesty of the Stanford recruit is refreshing, and proof that no one is immune to the squeeze Trials can place on an individual.<\/p>\n

Here and there, other countries have events with impressive depth, such as Australia and its trio of sub-3:44 stars in the 400 freestyle. In the United States, though, there are very few events in which there are not multiple Olympic-final contenders. And with only two athletes selected for each event, medal hopefuls are routinely locked out, forced to watch the Games on television\u2014if they can stomach it.<\/p>\n

Through 1980, countries were allotted three berths in each Olympic event, only to have that rule changed to two-per-nation beginning in 1984. That guideline, for the record, is not going anywhere in the future. With that change, wiggle room at the U.S. Trials was severely limited and the pressure to earn a Team USA slot went up exponentially.<\/p>\n

If there is a positive to the situation, it is the inarguable fact that when athletes wearing the Stars and Stripes reach the Olympics, they are sharpened warriors. While they must deal with formidable international foes, they have been tested and are typically more comfortable than they were at Trials. Little fazes them about the environment. Simply, they are ready to compete.<\/p>\n

Future United States Olympic Trials will be no different than the most recent edition, or those that preceded it. There will be an equal share of feel-good stories and tales of heartache. An equal share of smiles and tears. For better or worse, it is a trademark of a meet that is the most demanding in the world.<\/p>\n

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


\nClick here to download the full issue of Swimming World July 2021, available now!<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Swimming<\/a>[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK]<\/p>\n

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FEATURES<\/p>\n

010\u00a0 |\u00a0 TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES: READY FOR IMPACT<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Dan D\u2019Addona, Matthew De George, John Lohn, David Rieder and Andy Ross<\/strong>
\nAs the United States was still selecting its Olympic swimming team in mid-June, most countries had already decided who would be competing at the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed Olympic Games this summer. Here are profiles of 10 swimmers from around the world who have been preparing to make an impact in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

022\u00a0 |\u00a0 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: ICONIC MOMENTS IN OLYMPIC HISTORY<\/strong><\/span>
\nby John Lohn<\/strong>
\nIn October of 2019, nearly a year prior to the original date of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Swimming\u00a0 World designed a series that would pay homage to the history of the sport on its biggest stage. For our final installment of \u201cTakeoff to Tokyo,\u201d we offer a look at some of the most prominent moments in Olympic lore.<\/p>\n

026\u00a0 |\u00a0 AS GOOD AS IT GETS<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Dan D\u2019Addona<\/strong>
\nIn our Olympic preview of artistic swimming, Swimming World notes that Russia is a perfect 10-for-10, winning every Olympic gold medal possible\u2014duet and team\u2014since the turn of the century. Led by Svetlana Romashina and Svetlana Kolesnichenko, Russia will be tough to beat next month, Aug. 2-7, in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

COACHING<\/p>\n

20\u00a0 |\u00a0 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: MAXIMIZING SWIMMING VELOCITY (Part 3)\u2014MINIMIZING THE ARM ENTRY PHASE TIME IN FREESTYLE AND BUTTERFLY<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Rod Havriluk<\/strong>
\nThe non-propulsive time in a stroke cycle consists of the time for the entry phase and the recovery phase. This article presents strategies to minimize the entry phase time for freestyle and butterfly so that a swimmer can decrease stroke cycle time, increase stroke rate and increase swimming velocity.<\/p>\n

040\u00a0 |\u00a0 A COACHES\u2019 GUIDE TO ENERGY SYSTEMS (Part 2)<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong>
\nLast month, Swimming World explored the concept of energy systems and how coaches can use them to maximize athlete development and performance. In Part 2, we examine how one incorporates his understanding of energy systems into a seasonal training plan.<\/p>\n

042\u00a0 |\u00a0 Q&A WITH COACH SID CASSIDY<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n

043\u00a0 |\u00a0 HOW THEY TRAIN MEGAN MORONEY AND ASPEN GERSPER<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n

TRAINING<\/p>\n

019\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0 DRYSIDE TRAINING:\u00a0 SUMMER SPEED<\/strong><\/span>
\nby J.R. Rosania<\/strong><\/p>\n

JUNIOR SWIMMER<\/p>\n

45\u00a0 |\u00a0 UP & COMERS:\u00a0 KAYLA HAN<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Shoshanna Rutemiller<\/strong><\/p>\n

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS<\/p>\n

008\u00a0 |\u00a0 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

018\u00a0 |\u00a0 THE OFFICIAL WORD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

027\u00a0 |\u00a0 2021 AQUATIC DIRECTORY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

046\u00a0 |\u00a0 GUTTERTALK<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

047\u00a0 |\u00a0 PARTING SHOT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n