{"id":533948,"date":"2023-07-27T17:50:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T00:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=533948"},"modified":"2023-07-27T18:30:28","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T01:30:28","slug":"world-championships-to-usas-benefit-bella-sims-has-secured-identity-as-clutch-relay-performer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/world-championships-to-usas-benefit-bella-sims-has-secured-identity-as-clutch-relay-performer\/","title":{"rendered":"World Championships: To USA’s Benefit, Bella Sims Has Forged Identity as Clutch Relay Performer"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Championships: To USA’s Benefit, Bella Sims Has Secured Identity as Clutch Relay Performer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some athletes have an innate ability to enhance their performances under the spotlight, or under conditions that trigger a little extra. Count Bella Sims<\/strong> in that category, and specifically as a go-to performer in relay competition.<\/p>\n

Sims is one of the United States\u2019 rising stars, an 18-year-old bound for the University of Florida and already with plentiful experience on the international stage. Earlier this week at the World Championships, the Sandpipers of Nevada-trained Sims finished eighth in the 400-meter freestyle and sixth in the 200 freestyle.<\/p>\n

In the 400 freestyle, Sims followed a prelims mark of 4:04.25 with a time of 4:05.37 in the final. In the 200 freestyle, she turned in a career-best of 1:55.45 in the semifinals and backed it up with a solid 1:56.00 in the final. Both of Sims\u2019 individual events featured world-record showings from Australians \u2013 Ariarne Titmus<\/strong> in the longer event and Mollie O\u2019Callaghan<\/strong> in the 200 freestyle.<\/p>\n

It was Sims\u2019 performance in the 800 freestyle relay that stood out most \u2013 not that anyone should have been shocked. As the United States earned the silver medal<\/a> behind the world-record-setting Australians<\/a>, Sims cranked out a third-leg split of 1:54.64. The effort helped Team USA clock in at 7:41.38 and marked the second consecutive summer in which Sims dropped a huge outing in the 800 free relay at the World Champs.<\/p>\n

Last summer, as the United States took gold, Sims delivered an anchor leg of 1:54.60. To go sub-1:55 in back-to-back editions of the World Championships is impressive on its own merit. Considering the splits were sizable drops from her individual times in the 200 freestyle reveals an athlete who elevates herself in team competition. That trait cannot be taught and is deeply appreciated by coaches and teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that I had to give it all for this relay,\u201d said Sims, who is coached by Ron Aitken<\/strong>. \u201cIt was my last swim. I definitely had to leave it all in the pool. I was pretty accepting of the 200 free, but I didn\u2019t want to bring everyone down with me being not happy with it. You just have to learn how to be happy so that everyone else can be cheery for their races.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next year will see Sims prepare for the United States Olympic Trials and the opportunity to nail down a second Olympic berth. Sims qualified as a member of the 800 freestyle relay for the 2020 Games in Tokyo, where she claimed a silver medal for her prelims contributions. On the road to Paris, the 18-year-old will rely on the light persona she brings to the pool deck, an approach she feels is the best key to success.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past few years, I\u2019ve learned to have fun with it and not everything is very serious,\u201d she said. \u201cThe more fun you have, for me at least, the better I do. That\u2019s definitely come with being a vet, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n