2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- When:
- Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
- Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
- Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT (8PM finals on Friday & Saturday)
- Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
- Wave I & II Event Order
- LCM (50m)
- Day 6 Finals Live Stream
- Psych Sheets
- Wave II Live Results
- Day 6 Finals Heat Sheet
Reported by James Sutherland.
WOMEN’S 100 FREE FINAL
- World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 51.71 (2017)
- American Record: Simone Manuel – 52.04 (2019)
- US Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA) – 52.54 (2018)
- World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (CAN) – 52.70 (2016)
- 2016 Olympic Champion: Simone Manuel (USA) / Penny Oleksiak (CAN) – 52.70
- 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 53.28
- Wave I Cut: 56.29
- Wave II Cut: 55.56
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 54.38
- Abbey Weitzeil (CAL), 53.53
- Erika Brown (TNAQ), 53.59
- Olivia Smoliga (ABSC), 53.63
- Natalie Hinds (ABSC), 53.84
- Catie Deloof (CA-Y), 53.87
- Allison Schmitt (SUN), 54.12
The wide-open women’s 100 freestyle came down to the wire, with speedster Abbey Weitzeil and Tennessee’s Erika Brown jumping on the lead early.
Brown, who squeaked into the final by two one-hundredths, provided some true outside smoke from Lane 8, blasting down the back-half as she looked like she was leading the pack.
Olivia Smoliga, Natalie Hinds and Catie Deloof began to make up some ground down the stretch, but ultimately Weitzeil and Brown held on, going 1-2 with respective times of 53.53 and 53.59.
The victory for Weitzeil is her second straight in the event at Trials, having won in 2016, and was just off her season-best of 53.52 set in the prelims.
Brown, who was a bit off early in the meet, failing to advance out of the heats in the 200 free and 100 fly, stepped up big when it mattered, producing the third-fastest swim of her career—just shy of her best time of 53.42 set at the 2019 U.S. Open.
Squeak is right
Never rooted for a swimmer at trials more than I was rooting for Erika to make this team. Her LCM fly hasn’t been “on” in a while but definitely thought she could make some noise in the 200. Kudos to her for the mental toughness it took to nail that final after five swims that I would image she was disappointed in.
Looking forward to the 50 tonight!! Go get em Erika!!
She has definitely gotten better as the meet has gone on. I wonder if not enough rest originally although she said the focus has been the 50 and 100
There were a lot of Erica Brown doubters in the comments in the past couple months. I’m glad she proved them wrong and made the team.
I sure didn’t see her 100 free coming after that 100 fly stinker. Who goes 49 scy/59 lcm? It’s the female equivalent of Hofer. So how can your 100 scy fly be all about the underwaters, and your 100 lcm free be about in-water swim speed? Very bizarre, though Kredich has interesting takes on elasticity/power in freestyle. Looking forward to further time drops.
I really think it may have been first race jitters
Agree! Her and the VOLS most likely would have won the 2020 NCAA championships, strong favorite, she had an outstanding 2020 year of swimming! She is underrated by many, but if you are involved in the swimming community you know she is awesome and a great competitor!
Bring it home Erica! This is your time!