40-Year-Old Calvin Schildknect Shines at Columbia Sectionals

2025 Speedo Sectionals – Columbia, Missouri

• March 13-16, 2025
• Mizzou Aquatic Center – Columbia, MO
• SCY (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Results on Meet Mobile: “Region VIII Speedo Spring Sectionals”
• Day 1 Recap | Day 2 Recap | Day 3 Recap | Day 4 Recap

Former Davidson collegiate swimmer Calvin Schildknecht turned back the hands of time last weekend by qualifying for the C-final in the two events at the Speedo Sectionals in Columbia.

Schildknecht, who also coaches for the Arkansas Dolphins, turned in a tremendous performance in the 50 breast, placing 18th in a personal best time of 27.36.

Schildknecht kicked off the weekend with a strong start in the 200 breast on Thursday, placing 23rd overall with a time of 2:09.43. His prelim time of 2:07.51 marked a lifetime best performance for the 40-year-old, knocking over two seconds off of his previous best time of 2:09.84.

His success continued on Friday morning, when he joined teammates Noah Peery, Tate Schultz and John Bracey to take on the 200 free relay, posting an overall time of 1:29.35. Schildknecht had the fastest split of the group, blasting a 21.95 as the second leg of the race.

Schildknecht also finished 33rd in the 100 breast (59.10 – PB), 37th in the 50 fly (23.80 – PB) and 63rd in the 100 fly (53.26 – PB).

Having been racing fairly consistently over the last few years, each of Schildknecht’s previous best times were set just a few months ago at the 2024 TYR Super Finals in November.

Before joining the Arkansas Dolphins, Schildknecht served as the assistant swim coach at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock from 2012 to 2017.

After graduating from Davidson College in 2007, Schildknecht continued his swimming career on the master’s circuit. He became a U.S. Master’s Swimming national champion in 2012 and has posted 88 USMS top-10 finishes, as well as earning five All-American honors during his master’s career.