WATCH: Olivia Smoliga Sets American Record in 50 Back

2018 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – MESA

The stroke shootouts were back at the 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series stop in Mesa. This was just the 2nd time we’ve seen the stroke 50s in this format, as swimmers competed in shootouts for the first time at the Austin Pro Swim in January. In the shootouts, the top 8 swimmers in each of the respective strokes will compete in the quarterfinal. The 4 fastest swimmers then move on to the semifinal, with the fastest 2 from the semifinal moving on to the final. Those swimmers then go head-to-head to determine the winner.

Olympic backstroker Olivia Smoliga put up a lifetime best in the 50 back shootouts at the 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series stop in Mesa, and it was an American Record to boot. Smoliga, who knocked 5 seconds off her 200 back time earlier in the meet, took down the record as she raced fellow National Teamer Ali Deloof in the final round. She touched in 27.43, clipping the former mark of 27.48 done by Kathleen Baker at 2017 Worlds.

QUARTERFINAL:

SEMIFINAL:

FINAL:

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Bayliss
6 years ago

I’m not sure if it’s really relavant but the wind looks like it is at her back.

Lauren Neidigh
Reply to  Bayliss
6 years ago

The wind that day wasn’t bad. The first 2 days were a different story.

USA
6 years ago

Why is she wearing a Speedo suit? Didn’t she sign with finis?

Yooz
Reply to  USA
6 years ago

Not sure if finis has a FINA approved racing suit yet

Admin
Reply to  Yooz
6 years ago

They do. They have MANY approved suits.

https://www.fina.org/content/fina-approved-swimwear

toastedcoconut
6 years ago

not really relevant here but here’s a cool video of Abbey Weitzeil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FcNiirTV1Y

Yozhik
Reply to  toastedcoconut
6 years ago

Thank you for the link. I really hope to see her under 53sec again.

YuT
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

Never been under 53…….

Yozhik
Reply to  YuT
6 years ago

4×100 free. Rio 2016

Smh
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

Doesn’t count since she wasn’t the lead off swimmer.

Yozhik
Reply to  Smh
6 years ago

52.56 does count. How many American sprinters besides Weitzeil do you know who could split under 53? Four? (Manuel, Comerford, Romano and Ledecky ) Who else?

bobo gigi
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

Abbey Weitzeil’s 100 free PB is 53.28.
Why is there a discussion to know if she has ever been under 53? 🙄

Yozhik
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Bobo, when I said that i wanted to see her under 53 again the only thing it meant was that I wanted to see her again in that beautiful form that she had in 2016. The year when she was considered by very many including you the #1 American sprinter heading into Olympic Games. Her split 52.56 was the best performance on this American record silver Olympic medal relay. I wished her to be again among leading American sprinters. If you didn’t get it, then I’m sorry. That is where my abilities in English language end. Unfortunately you don’t know my mother tongue and my French is even worse than my English. So there is no reason to continue attempts… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

And regarding this PB. Do you think 56 2 is the best of Ariarne Titmus or 53.75 is the best of Katie Ledecky or 52.06 is the best of Cate Campbell or 53.9 is the best M. Romano or 1:54.08 is the best of Sarah Sjosrom in 200 etc, etc, etc

bobo gigi
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

Your English is better than mine.
You’re from?

About PBs, it’s not a question of desire or not to understand. I just responded to your first comment above. She has never been under 53 flat start. That’s just a fact. Her 52.56 relay split is relatively logical compared to her PB. Generally you add 0.6/0.7 s to the relay split and you have the flat-start time. She was in Rio in 53.20/53.30 shape. Do I consider the best time of someone her best? Yes. We can’t compare crazy Lezak’s anchor leg next to Bernard in Beijing to Lezak’s best time flat start. Did he swim the best race of his life that day? Yes. Did he give the best… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Casablanca
You are asking of my personal info that I would rather not providing on public anonymous forum. If you really want to know I can give it to you via private channel [email protected]
The country where I was born and educated doesn’t exist anymore on the world map. The area where I was brought up had a strong historical influences of at least five cultures and languages. It doesn’t mean that I’m fluent in five languages but I lived among people who care less about purity of the language considering it just a communication tool. Therefore those people had well developed sense of humor and… Read more »

bobo gigi
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

How many American girls have split under 53 in history?
Maybe I forget one or two girls but I have in mind Weitzeil, Manuel, Comerford, Romano, Ledecky, Coughlin and Franklin.

toastedcoconut
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Torres

bobo gigi
Reply to  toastedcoconut
6 years ago

You’re right. Torres in free and medley relays in Beijing in 2008.

USA
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

Dara Torres, Missy Franklin, Natalie Coughlin.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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