Read about Michael Andrew’s experience after a stunning U.S. Nationals, along with a full U.S. Swimming Nationals recap report and photo coverage. Meet some newcomers to the pool, and track recent progress of rising stars like Andrew Seliskar, Ella Eastin, Regan Smith, and Allison Schmitt.<\/p>\n
010 2018 USA SWIMMING NATIONALS PHOTO GALLERY<\/strong><\/span> 022 MICHAEL ANDREW EARNS CREDIBILITY, FACES PRESSURE AFTER NATIONALS BREAKTHROUGH<\/strong><\/span> 024 KATHLEEN BAKER\u2019S 368-DAY JOURNEY TO A WORLD RECORD<\/strong><\/span> 026 UNDER PRESSURE? CAELEB DRESSEL SHRUGS IT OFF AND TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS<\/strong><\/span> 028 ELLA EASTIN PUSHES PAST HEARTBREAK, HEALTH TO FINALLY BREAK THROUGH<\/strong><\/span> 030 THE BIGGEST SHOCKER OF U.S. NATIONALS? ALLY McHUGH\u2019S 400 IM<\/strong><\/span> 032 REGAN SMITH FEELS NO PRESSURE AND POSSESSES UNLIMITED POTENTIAL<\/strong><\/span> 034 ANDREW SELISKAR LEADING AMERICAN RESURGENCE IN MEN\u2019S 200 FREE<\/strong><\/span> 036 THE BLISS AND THE AGONY OF MISSY FRANKLIN\u2019S RETURN<\/strong><\/span> 038 ALLISON SCHMITT RETURNS TO U.S. TEAM WITH EMOTION AND INSPIRATION<\/strong><\/span> 040 FIRST-TIMERS EARN THEIR SPOTS, STEAL THE SHOW AT USA SWIMMING NATIONALS<\/strong><\/span> 042 HOW THEY TRAIN: CONNER McHUGH<\/strong><\/span> 044 2018 USA SWIMMING NATIONALS\u2014FULL FINALS RECAP<\/strong><\/span> Read about Michael Andrew’s experience after a stunning U.S. Nationals, along with a full U.S. Swimming Nationals recap report and photo coverage. Meet some newcomers to the pool, and track<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":324324,"template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[56108,65468],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-324320","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-swimming-world-biweekly-1","7":"product_cat-click-to-view-all-issues-in-2018-swimming-world-biweekly-1","9":"first","10":"instock","11":"downloadable","12":"virtual","13":"sold-individually","14":"purchasable","15":"product-type-simple"},"exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n
\nby Peter H. Bick<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nAfter winning three individual events at nationals, Michael Andrew is confident in his abilities to deliver a big performance as a full-fledged member of Team USA for the first time.<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nEver since Kathleen Baker finished second in the 100 back at last summer\u2019s World Championships to Kylie Masse, who set a world record of 58.10, Baker set up a daily notification in her cell phone that read \u201c58.10.\u201d After setting her first world record with a time of 58.00 at the U.S. nationals, the 21-year-old resolved to send herself a new daily reminder: 57.99.<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nAfter a surprising \u201cslow\u201d start at nationals, Caeleb Dressel bounced back, learned from his earlier subpar swims and appeared ready for the opportunity to redeem himself at Pan Pacs in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nAfter a monthlong medical odyssey in which she was diagnosed with mononucleosis just 27 days before nationals, Ella Eastin mustered the physical and mental strength required to qualify for Pan Pacs\u2014her first time representing the senior U.S. national team at a major competition.<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nAlly McHugh, best known for her abilities in distance freestyle, dropped nearly five-and-a-half seconds from her personal best in the 400 IM to clock the second fastest time (4:34.80) in the world this year, ahead of Brooke Forde and Olympians Melanie Margalis and Leah Smith.<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nRegan Smith has already made quite an impact in the sport in the span of just two summers\u2014from Junior Worlds to representing Team USA internationally. As she continues to drop her times in backstroke\u2014and now butterfly\u2014the 16-year-old is fast becoming one of the best swimmers in the world!<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nBefore June, Andrew Seliskar was not considered a freestyler. Now, he\u2019s a national champion…and he should help lead a fast group of American men internationally in the 200 free and 4×200 freestyle relay.<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nAlthough Missy Franklin was disappointed with her performances in her return to nationals\u2014swimming in a pair of C-finals\u2014everyone in the sport was happy to have her back. \u201cBeing here and just seeing everyone was so special,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cIt reminds me a lot of why I do this and how special the people are that God has brought into my life through swimming and sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nJust seven months after committing herself to a comeback in the sport, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt came back from the \u201clowest of the low\u201d and qualified to represent the United States at Pan Pacs…and in the process, she had swum her fastest time in the 200 free in six years!<\/p>\n
\nby David Rieder<\/strong>
\nWith Katie Drabot, Justin Wright and Zach Harting turning in breakthrough swims on the first night of nationals, swimming fans were able to witness the raw elation of a first-timer\u2014an athlete who has gotten over the hump and made the team\u2014in this case for next month\u2019s Pan Pacific Championships.<\/p>\n
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nby James Sica<\/strong>
\nFull event-by-event coverage of all five nights, July 25-29, from the Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, Calif.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"