FLORIDA VS. VIRGINIA
- Friday, Oct. 13, 2023
- Stephen C. O’Connell Center
- Gainesville, Florida
- SCY (25 yards)
- All races uploaded to SwimSwam
- Results on MeetMobile: “UF vs. VIRGINIA”
- Editor’s note: everyone is wearing practice suits, including pros.
Last Friday in Gainesville, Bella Sims swam the 100 back (51.79), 200 Back (1:52.49), and 100 fly (52.09), winning the 200 and taking 2nd in both 100s. After the meet, Sims spoke on her races, her transition to Florida from the Sandpipers of Nevada, and racing Caeleb Dressel in kick sets.
Happy Coleman listend to #needsmorebella in the Florida video!
She reached the big time this year swimming in that incredible 200 free final at the WCs.
I hope she will continue to improve in all her events. The international competition in women’s swimming may be the best ever at the moment.
She’ll do fine as an NCAA swimmer.
Nice username
What username
Florida distance group seems pretty good, hopefully she’ll do well
I really hope Bella is able to maintain her fast times. Nothing against Nesty or Florida, but Ron was doing something right and I really hope Bella can continue to improve in a new environment. Last year, the UF women kind of collapsed at NC’s, and I really hope that doesn’t happen again. Realistically speaking, if they don’t, they could contend for a top 5 finish.
Also hope Bella can continue her success at Florida.
However, last year the UF women were seeded to score 169.5 points and scored 179* at NCAAs, placing 9th, the highest program finish in nearly a decade. I would not refer to that as “kind of collapsed”.
*That’s also with DQing their 200 medley relay, which would have placed 9th (18 pts) had their anchor jumped a few hundredths slower
Is it really necessary to incorporate «really» into 75% of your four-sentence comment?
I do say that a lot i just realized hahahaha
Your per sentence average was higher…
More than likely SECs was their big meet, so it’s not surprising that they went slower at NCAAs. I’d guess that 80% or more goes slower at NCAAs. As they get better and better I assume they’ll be at their best at NCAAs.
UF didn’t collapse at NCs, they outscored their seed, and as Coleman said, would have scored more without the relay DQ. Another factor is that Emma Weyant didn’t swim a meet until January, so she had to fully taper at SECs to qualify for NCs as she didn’t have the luxury of a midseason taper. They saw an opening to win at SECs and took it. This year, they should win SECs handily, so the emphasis will be on NCs, and you’re going to see a massive jump from their 9th place finish last year. Remember, at 2022 NCs, they outscored their seed by 200+%. They know what to do.
What are her 3 events gonna be? I’m thinking 200/500 free and 200 back, but her 100 back is also really good and so is her 100 free and 400 IM.
It would be fun to see her in the 400 IM but no way she skips the event where she’s a heavy favorite. Agree it looks like 200 back this year, but who knows, sometimes freshmen get stuck with the mile! She could swim the 100 free or even 200 fly next year.
I’d say she’s a favorite in the 400 IM. They have Ivey who could contend for the 200 free title as well.
Beyond this year, she may not have to swim the 400 IM again. Or this year, really. They have Weyant, Zoe Dixon, Mabel Zavaros, and Julia Podkoscielny. Next year, they get Julie Brousseau from Canada (4:38 LC) and they just secured a verbal from the fastest incoming 400 IMmer of the class of 25, Top 10 Lilla Bognar.
They also have Summer Smith, who transferred from Tennessee after her concussion and sat out most of last year to heal. She’s right there in the 400IM, 200fly, 200breast and even the mile.
Im definitely cheering for Bella and the Gators overall but “Compare & Contrast” in the title is generous.
She has great energy though!
Sorry for commenting off-article, but don’t know where else to post this.
Stanford men have published their roster, and uh…
No Minakov.
No Polonsky.
No Zhier Fan.
No Affeld.
No Macalister.
Seriously??
lmfaoooooo they literally look like a D3 roster
they have studs coming in but we all know that will amount to nothing
Top 15 finish at this point seems like a reach
Thought I read somewhere (someone’s comment) that Polonsky is redshirting for the Games. Wonder if that’s the same with Minakov / Macalister?
I think in Minakov’s case, he wants to finish his degree and get out. Education seems important to him, and he actually started his degree in 2020 I believe. Also, he’s already in the transfer portal last I remember.
I’ve got all the answers. Stay tuned…
https://swimswam.com/minakov-polonsky-fan-are-redshirting-at-least-the-fall-semester-for-stanford-men/
I love Bella’s energy but I wish she could be more specific.
I have found that American and Canadian swimmers give the least insightful interviews out of any that I’ve noticed. There’s something cultural in that but I don’t know what.
Australians give the best interviews. I think it is because playful banter and confidence is promoted in their culture.
I’d say it is because they get more media attention and experience/comfort with being interviewed.
Some of the interviews for athletes at Asian Games had incredible depth and insight. We definitely don’t get that often from American and Canadians.
I’d say it’s primarily that Bella is an 18-year-old college freshman, whereas the likes of the Campbell sisters and other international stars are more in the 25-30 range with much more international experience. Maturity based on time can affect what you refer to as “insightful.”
While I’m a huge fan of Cate Campbell’s swimming I don’t think some of the interviews she gave over the summer would be considered particularly “mature”.
19 year old Sam Short is just an example of one Australian who gives great interviews. Kai Taylor also, plus Meg and Mollie have for a couple of years. Australians are just down to earth and don’t use the vague sporting references that give no real insight.
Yeah it’s not about age. I think it is a cultural thing. The Aussies just seem to be more Frank and honest while North Americans tend to be very “I just want to try my best” without giving any actual information.
Yeah but not all American is like that and a lot of people criticising Dressel for not talking about last year and he gave the most honest interview I’ve seen two months ago.
Wow, Sub13. Just how blindly and baselessly biased can you be? People are different and they are interviewed in different settings by different press, some of whom are a bit biased themselves. Each stands on its own. “The Aussies just seem to be more Frank and honest while North Americans tend ….” What baloney. Sheesh!!!
And then there is this, Sub13:
“The full investigation conducted nearly two years ago into Swimming Australia’s treatment of women and girls has been revealed and the findings are harrowing.
In December 2021, investigators Chris Ronalds, Katherine Bates and Alex Parker issued a 114-page review that found female athletes and coaches had been subjected to physical and mental abuse, groping, sexual innuendo, and body shaming in Australian swimming.
Swimming Australia didn’t publically release the full report—instead issuing a response that didn’t fully confront all of the issues presented—claiming that it couldn’t make the review public due to confidentiality. However, a leaked version of the report now shows that no one is identified, leading to questions as to why Swimming… Read more »
As an Australian-American who has lived in both countries, I agree with what Sub13 said.