By: Youheng Zhong
Indianapolis — Over ten days, two world records fell, and forty-six athletes punched their tickets to the Paris Olympics. Here are a few highlights from the Trials.
Katie Ledecky Dominates Long-Distance Free
Of all the Olympians participating in the Trials this year, seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky is likely the most successful. At age 27, she became the first woman to win the same event in four consecutive US Olympic swimming trials by winning her main event, the 800-meter freestyle, last Saturday. In addition, she also won the 1500-meter free, 400-meter free, and 200-meter free, although she said she probably will scratch and only participate in the 4×200 free relay (Four events is quite tiring after all!). Despite winning four events, Ledecky didn’t seem thrilled at her performances, having not broken any of her world records (800m and 1500m free). This just goes to show how disciplined she is: her standards are higher than her fellow Americans and she keeps focused during the grind.
America vs. Australia Rivalry
This July at the Paris Olympics we’ll look forward to the strong competition, as the American and Australian rivalry is alive and well. One of the most intense events that shows off this rivalry will probably be the women’s 400 free. In this event, Ledecky isn’t the favorite child anymore: Australian Ariarne Titmus is, as she is the current world record-holder with a time of 3:55.38. She got that time last summer at the world championships, where the US famously lost the gold medal count: seven to Australia’s 13. However, Tim Hinchey III, president and CEO of USA Swimming, won’t stand for this, and said their goal is to win the swim meet and the gold medal count this year at Paris. And that means taking down the Australians.
The Aussies are talking about the US’s loss too. Last summer, four-time Olympian Cate Campbell went on Australia’s Channel 9 and said it felt great that Australia topped the gold medal count. “[On] the first night of competition, we did not have to hear ‘Star Spangled Banner’ ring out through the stadium. I cannot tell you how happy that made me. If I [ever] hear that song again it will be too soon. Bring on Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Stop being sore losers.”
Two New World Records
Katie Ledecky wasn’t the only one that scored a massive success last week: Cavalier Gretchen Walsh and Regan Smith made history by setting a world record in the 100m butterfly and 100 back, respectively. In addition to the world records, both qualified for the team, Walsh swimming the 100 fly, 50 free, and 4×100 free in Paris, and Regan Smith swimming in the 100 back, 200 back, and 200 fly in the women’s division. Smith, who has been struggling between Tokyo and now said that it has been a long time since she’s performed this well in a big meet and she hopes to do the same in France. It’s hard to think she won’t shine.
Thomas Heilman, New 17 Year Old Olympian
While much of the focus is on Caleb Dressel’s comeback and Ledecky’s domination over the long-distance free, Thomas Heilman has quietly arrived on the scene, winning the 200-meter butterfly and taking second in the 100 fly. In addition to that, he broke an age-group record held by Phelps for more than two decades and will be the youngest American man to swim in multiple individual events at one Games.