Stephanie Peacock was recently confirmed as a member of the USA Swimming Open Water National team. Now the former NCAA Champion is preparing for her third trip to the Olympic Trials, where she’ll focus on the 800m freestyle having finished sixth in 2012. Her experiences offer a valuable insight to younger swimmers, and will hopefully see her achieve another top-ranking result later this month.
Stephanie says she’s ‘feeling super confident’ going into the Trials, starting on 26 June. Back in 2008 she competed in the in the 200m freestyle, 200m IM and 400m freestyle. Now aged 24 and with her program focused on the 800m freestyle, the Coral Springs native is looking forward to the prospect of going up against Katie Ledecky and the rest of the USA’s best.
In order to prepare, she up rooted in September of 2015 and moved across the country from Florida to train with Coach Bill Rose and the Mission Viejo Nadadores in Southern California.
Stephanie said:
“I felt that Coach Rose’s distance training background would be perfect for what I needed.” She has increased from nine swim sessions per week to ten, and upped her yardage. Being part of a positive training atmosphere under Coach Rose has seen her lap up the increased workload. That workload has included multiple training trips to Maui and Colorado Springs. All the hard work in and out of the pool, and a greater focus on good nutrition are paying off with best times in competitions leading up to Trials.”
She added: “I am feeling super confident in my races again. It is always great to have a good feel for the water.”
Back in 2008 as a sophomore in high school the Trials were a huge learning experience. She said: “It was incredible being able to see people make the Olympic team in person, and seeing how their hard work paid off. It was really inspiring.”
The 2012 Trials were very different. Being a sophomore at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and having international swimming under her belt, Stephanie finished sixth the 800m freestyle.
“There was so much pressure just being in the final heat. Being able to get the experience of racing in that final with seven other amazing competitors was incredible. Now I want to experience that again!”
Stephanie Peacock 800m freestyle stats:
- Lifetime best: 8:24.36 (2012)
- Best time in 2015: 8:28.25
- Best time in 2016: 8:25.89
- Current world ranking: 14th
- Current US ranking: 4th
Stephanie Peacock is sponsored by blueseventy and has been involved in the development of the new neroR10 kneeskin, which uniquely features copper infused fabric for greater compression and the new comfortable and streamlined powerback design.
She could be second behind Ledecky, but she will have to fight with Smith and Mann possibly Runge if she swims it.
Good luck Stephanie. The U.S.Trials are going to ROCK the world as there will be many surprises on who makes the U.S.Team.