Despite being the top seed in the 400m freestyle at this year’s Canadian Trials, Pan American Games gold medallist Emily Overholt will not be swimming the event.
“I’m actually not going to be swimming the 400 free,” Overholt told SwimSwam. “I’m scratching just to focus on the 400 IM because it’s on the second day.”
The 400m freestyle final takes place on the first night of competition, meaning that Overholt would be entering the 400m IM not entirely fresh.
While she’s had plenty of success in the 400 freestyle including gold at last summer’s Pan Am Games in Toronto, Overholt’s best event has proven to be the 400 IM. Last summer at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia Overholt finished third in the event.
Overholt is seeded first in the 400m IM with her bronze medal time of 4:32.52 where she’s the favourite to make the Olympic team.
With Overholt out of the 400m freestyle it leaves room for both Tabitha Baumann and Brittany MacLean to earn a spot on the Olympic team. While Baumann is seeded ahead of MacLean, MacLean is arguably the favourite now.
MacLean enters as the Canadian record holder with a 4:05.06 that she swam at the London 2012 Olympic Games. After a very successful NCAA Championships with Georgia she looks to be in a great position to win the event.
Overholt’s absence in the 400m freestyle works in MacLean’s favour, but the two will have to face off against one another in the 200m freestyle where Overholt is the top seed.
Overholt’s last event will be on the fourth day of competition. She told SwimSwam that she will either swim the 200m butterfly, or the 200m IM depending on what she’s feeling that day, but not both.
Yeah haha you forgot about the Iron Lady. I hope she gets the cheat Ye’s world record as she did Kukors suit record.
“The cheat Ye”
and yet no one ever accuses Ledecky of cheating…interesting
Seems like you cant just be happy for a young woman’s success. What a shame!
It’s official. Emily hauls in the 4IM gold in Rio, provided she doesn’t dq.
Silver maybe. There is a woman from Hungry that is pretty fast…..
Of course she won’t be gold ….
400IM and 400 Free are back to back days in Rio with the 200 free following on day three, her decision makes sense leading into Rio.
Swimming the 400 free and then having to swim the 400 IM the next day would be so challenging. I bet she just wants to focus on her ablitlity to be a top world performer in the 400 IM.
Good point! Canada needs more of that attitude
This opens the door for Ruck also. As an automatic priority 2 qualifier in the 4im based on top 3 finish in kazan i don’t fully understand this logic. I’m assuming she’ll be allowed to enter the 4free in rio if Canada doesn’t qualify 2 swimmers but she’s rolling the dice. Why wouldn’t she put more emphasis this week on the 400 / 200 free and mail in the 4im?