JUNIOR SWIMMER
UP & COMERS AGE GROUP SWIMMER OF THE MONTH BY SHOSHANNA RUTEMILLER
Teagan O’Dell I
n August 2019, 12-year-old Teagan O’Dell of the Irvine Novaquatics (Calif.) took down Missy Franklin’s 11-12 girls national age group record in the 200 meter IM, clocking 2:18.69 at the Western Zone Age Group Championships to erase Franklin’s 2:19.12 mark set in 2008. “Teagan has only been swimming for me for a relatively short time,” says her coach, Ken LaMont. “So at a very early stage, we offered up some fast 100s at the end of the workout with a lot of rest between each one. Keep in mind she was only 13 years old at the time, and I was watching her push 51-second 100 yard freestyles in workout. “Oddly, she doesn’t consider herself a freestyler above other events, which would explain why during the same season, she swam a 1:58.9 200 yard IM at one of our championship meets. This shows her wide range of talent in her swimming ability.” At the 2020 Speedo Championship Series in Carlsbad, Calif., Feb. 27-March 1, O’Dell, still 13, took first in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:15.06) and 400 IM (4:13.42) despite racing against finalists in her events as old as 18. She also placed second in the 100 back, 100 breast and 200 IM, and third in the 200 back. “Teagan (now 14) still enjoys one of the hardest things there is to teach—and that is she enjoys racing,” says Coach LaMont. “She is a great girl and very humble regarding her swimming. With that being said, she is also fully aware of her swimming and goals. Whenever I approach her with a goal or future plans, she usually has the same plan in place.” O’Dell also comes from an athletic family. She is a middle child in a family of four kids. Her three brothers all play football as a quarterback— just like their dad. Both of O’Dell’s parents agree: Their daughter is tough and willing to take on challenges! v
WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU DO IN SWIMMING? I am probably best at competing. It is also my favorite thing about the sport. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST WORKOUTS/ SETS YOU’VE DONE? Some of the toughest things in practice are any and all 100% efforts. I race against my very fast teammates, and it gets very tiring...but I love it!
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WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN SWIMMING... AND WHY? Katinka Hosszu is definitely a swimmer I look up to. She is an Olympic gold medalist and world champion. She also swims every stroke, and I aspire to be like her. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES? Some of my favorite things to do are watching Netflix and reading.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR? I am looking forward to going to more swim meets, and I’m very excited to watch the Olympics!
MAY 2021
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