VOICE FOR THE SPORT
MOST DEMANDING MEET IN THE WORLD BY JOHN LOHN
T
his 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. 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. The tears that Regan Smith shed after winning the 100 meter backstroke—and earning her first Olympic invitation—were 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. 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. 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. “Going forward, I’m 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,” Smith said, following her victory in the 100 backstroke at the U.S. Trials. “I 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.” 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. 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—if they can stomach it. 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. 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. 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.v John Lohn Associate Editor-in-Chief Swimming World Magazine
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JULY 2021
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