After Dana Vollmer took an extended break from competition after the 2013 World Championships, many fans were wondering who the USA would turn to in order to fill in the void she left.
Almost three years later, the answer is increasingly looking like…
…or is it?
In what was the race of the night this evening at the Mesa stop of the Arena Pro Series, Kelsi Worrell looked to be in the lead after the breakout, but Vollmer soon passed Worrell, touching first at the 50, 26.70 to 26.88. Â Coming off of that wall, Worrell didn’t surface until Vollmer had taken three strokes, and again, had a slight lead on the breakout. Â Once again, Vollmer pulled ahead above the water, and even though she was perhaps a little long on the glide into the wall, Vollmer took the win, 56.94 to 57.24. Â See the race video here:
Over the past couple of years, Kelsi Worrell has taken a wrecking ball to short course records, and as tonight showed, her short course success is due in no small part to her underwater prowess.  Yet, she is clearly not a short course only swimmer, as her lifetime best of 57.24 in the long course 100 fly is nothing to scoff at.  Tonight’s swim was only .03 off that time, and with over two months before Olympic Trials, you have to start wondering what more she’s capable of this summer.
Yet, Vollmer’s time tonight of 56.94 is remarkable in and of itself for at least two reasons.
First, it’s Vollmer’s 9th-best time ever, and her fastest in-season time. Â In the spring of 2012, she was swimming around 57.2-57.6 at similar meets, before she broke the world record with a 55.98 in London.
Second, it is the fastest time by a U.S. woman since…her world record swim in London in 2012. The previous fastest swim time over that timespan was Vollmer’s 57.22 at the 2013 World Championships. Â Worrell is the only other swimmer within half a second over Vollmer over the past four years.
Certainly, it is an Olympic year and it is definitely possible that some other swimmer could emerge from the mix and take one of the top two spots in Omaha. Â However, as it stands right now, Vollmer and Worrell are both looking really strong, and the if the USA is going to defend its gold medal in the medley relay in Rio, it is going to need a strong fly leg from someone, whether it is one of these two, or another swimmer who jumps up into that spot.
“First, it’s Vollmer’s 9th-best time ever, and her fastest in-season time. In the spring of 2012, she was swimming around 57.2-57.6 at similar meets, before she broke the world record with a 55.98 in London.”
Whoa– that stopped me in my tracks. I knew the 56.9 was impressive as hell but it’s even better than I realized!!
I’m glad that Dana Vollmer is back. Sjostrom still has to prove she can do something special at olympics, not “only” at worlds. We will see, but Dana is in the mix for 100 fly gold again.
Hswimmer, why swimming so fast at trials for Vollmer and Worrell? 😯 It would be stupid if you swim much slower in Rio.
They look miles ahead of the rest of US competition in that event. There’s no need at all to fully taper for Omaha. That’s a luxury for these 2 girls. Keep the best for Rio!
By the way I wouldn’t call the race at trials Vollmer vs Worrell. Both grls will just try to qualify. Nothing more. Trials are just a step. The most important meet is in Rio.
Dana Vollmer’s comeback is for real. We knew that since last summer but that’s a confirmation. Her overall shape is better and better. She’s fresh mentally. She… Read more »
Hswimmer,
Can you please share with me what you are having. You are certainly having a fantastic time.
Vollmer 55.6 (WR) Worrell 55.9 at trials for me. Dana says she still has a 55 in her, which I think she’ll do at trials and will certainly push Worrell along.
Prediction for USOT
Vollmer 56.05
Worrell 56.41
Vollmer is faster over the water. Good sign. Looks like we’ll have to sub 57 (maybe by a good bit) swimmers for fly come trials.
Third reason that it’s remarkable. She just popped out a baby only a while ago! 😀
Many athletes seem to regain their athletic ability quickly after popping out babies. Something to do with hormones or others.
In fact, I’d recommend mid-20s to early 30s female athletes who hit plateaus to get pregnant and have babies to rejuvenate their sporting career.
Okay now im curious. Who are some of the others?
Last year, Jessica-Ennis Hills became Hepthathlon world champion only one year after giving birth
Kara Goucher ran 2:24 in 2011 Boston Marathon only seven months after giving birth
Paula Radcliffe won 2007 New York Marathon less than 10 months after giving birth
Liz mcColgan gave birth in November 1990, and in March 1991 she bronze in Cross country World Championships, in June 1991 she ran 10,000 in second fastest ever and in August 1991 she won World Championships gold.
etc
etc
There are some physiological changes in woman’s body during pregnancy and these changes take time to revert back to normal even after giving birth. During pregnancy, ribcage is expanded, assisting breathing. There are also changes in cardiovascular system. During pregnancy, a woman’s heart is essentially remodelled. While the thickness of the heart walls remains the same, the chamber capacity increases, enabling it to hold a much larger volume of blood. This increases the efficiency with which oxygen is supplied to the muscles, the same mechanism induced by blood doping. With blood being pumped at a far greater rate around the body, in theory, the heart should be able to function more effectively during physical activity, until the system reverts back… Read more »
“In fact, I’d recommend mid-20s to early 30s female athletes who hit plateaus to get pregnant and have babies to rejuvenate their sporting career.”
Yes. This is a good and valid reason to have a baby. Yes.
I’m sure love, desire to have a family and all that already implied, no? 🙂
Oh, and how did you make sentences in italics? Please teach me.
Not all pregnancies have the same toll on a woman’s body, and Vollmer, who is only slightly more durable than a typical Campbell sister, had a particularly rough one that involved a couple months of bed rest in order to get the pregnancy more or less to term.
Of course. But some of the elite athletes who gave birth and became world champions in cycling and running also had very difficult pregnancies. Do you want me to list them too?