2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
- Sunday, June 26 – Sunday, July 3, 2016
- CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- SwimSwam Preview Links & Schedule
- NBC Broadcast Schedule
- Psych Sheets
Two of the Litherland triplets, Mick and Kevin, tried for the New Zealand Olympic Team this spring but came up short. Nevertheless, their names showed up on the psych sheets for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials.
The triplets, Jay included, hold triple citizenship between the U.S., New Zealand, and Japan. You can read more about that here. Because Jay has already represented the USA internationally (he won the 400 IM gold at the 2015 World University Games), he is no longer able to represent NZ or Japan at international meets (like the Olympics).
Mick and Kevin, meanwhile, had not yet competed for the U.S. internationally when it came time for NZ Olympic qualification, so they tried to punch their tickets for Rio under the Kiwi banner. Neither brother was fast enough for Rio qualification at the Canadian Trials in April, which served as a meet for Kiwis to qualify for the NZ team. That means that they have yet to represent ANY country internationally, so they’re still eligible to compete at U.S. Trials to jockey for a spot on the American Olympic team.
They look to be joining their brother Jay in Omaha for the U.S. Trials, as both Mick and Kevin also appear on the psych sheets. Mick is seeded 13th in the 200 fly, 46th in the 100 fly, and 49th in the 400 free. Kevin sits at #12 in the 400 free, #21 in the 1500, and #31 in the 200 free.
Jay, meanwhile, is closest to making the U.S. team. He’s seeded third in the 400 IM as well as 17th in the 200 free with a time that he swam earlier this month, which was a new best time without a full taper. Up to the top six finishers in the 100 and 200 free can make the American Olympic team for the 400 and 800 free relays.
I can’t get too excited about this issue. If it was like NCAAs where there was a cap on the # of swimmers, rather than a time cutoff, and they’d be bumping other swimmers out of the meet, maybe I’d care a little. Everyone, including them, knows that Mick and Kevin Litherland have virtually zero chance of making the team, especially since they couldn’t even make New Zealand’s team.
I may be wrong about this, but I think that some of the lower ranked US National Team members don’t always necessarily actual compete internationally for the USA if it’s in an off year, but they do receive financial and other benefits from U.S. Swimming. If so, it’s a slight… Read more »
Now, this is a more workable solution, because it is up to individual country and they can do it on a national level.
But then again, there are already top foreign swimmers competing internationally for foreign country and receiving all the monetary perks from their respective country and yet enjoying all the benefits as NCAA swimmers with full scholarships thus denying or bumping out American swimmers of receiving full scholarships due to cap/quota.
Proud to represent the US? Sounds like they are really just proud to represent Litherland. Make up your mind.
It’s not right, but it’s okay…
I’d swim for ISIS if that gets me to the Olympics
AviatorFly, I have never ever done drive by clicking before, but your post received my first thumbs up! Loved it!
I was under the impression that a swimmer may only attempt to make one countries Olympic team? I guess there is no process to declare you are attempting, and you can go to an open meet where it is possible to compete “for fun” and/OR also be involved in a selection process. I see many names who competed at the Canadian open trials who could also now have competed at U.S. trials but are not.
This looks like a loop-hole to me. I would like to see the OC or FINA make a ruling on a declaring process for athletes with multiple citizenship who have not represented a country internationally.
The question is WHY?
What purpose(s) does such new regulation aim for?
Would such new rules result in many benefits instead of taxing FINA’s already limited resources that can be used for much better purposes?
And how would FINA police the compliance of such rule when they cannot even ensure that submitted qualification times are legit (eg. Mexico’s Kazan world championships entry times fiasco)? Have you thought how incredibly difficult it would be to ensure compliance? Have you any idea that there are only a few other countries with simple Olympics trials as USA?
Such new rule would mean USA have to submit to FINA the list of all OT qualifiers in advance. And that’s the… Read more »
I have never studied law, but it’s just common sense that a new law designed to close current loopholes but instead creating many more loopholes as well as impossible policing is a terribly bad idea.
I am extremely good friends with the triplets. They are all awesome and I fully believe they will all three win Gold in Rio!
Two of these guys can’t even make the New Zealand team and you think they will win gold in rio?
Imagine how strong our women’s team would be if Gabrielle Fa’amausili could try out.
Bobo wanted Taylor Ruck to swim for USA for some reason. But when she chose Canada (which is far easier to qualify for than USA) , Bobo was never anywhere as critical of Ruck as he is of the twins.
Maybe because Bobo likes Ruck so much better than he does the twin bros. Who knows.. Shrug..
Go Trips! I hope they all make the team.