Allison Schmitt Wins Team USA’s First Gold, Breaks 36-Year Old Record

The defending Olympic Champion Allison Schmitt has had a roller-coaster of a few seasons since winning the 200 free at the 2012 London Games, battling depression and inconsistent performances.

Her first swim on Wednesday evening at the 2015 Pan American Games, however, might be the beginning of her final ascent to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team.

Schmitt took the women’s 200 free title in 1:56.23, which marked Team USA’s first gold of the meet after a generally quite lackluster first day. In the process, she broke the old Pan American Games record of 1:58.43, that had miraculously stood since 1979 when American Sippy Woodhead swam 1:58.43 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

At the time, Woodhead’s swim was a World Record.

Despite its historical significance, the  record was ripe for breaking, and broken it was: the top three swimmers were all under the old mark. That includes Canada’s Emily Overholt, who was 2nd in 1:57.55, and Brazil’s Manuella Lyrio, who placed 3rd in 1:58.03.

Schmitt is expected to race again at the end of the session on the American women’s 800 free relay.

For Overholt’s account, the 17-year old just missed the Canadian National Age Group Record for 15-17’s. That record is a 1:57.20 that belongs to Heather MacLean.

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Jon Nap
8 years ago

From this it can be seen that Schmitt is definitely in it for Rio. I know we’ve all been disappointed with her times in-season and even at some larger meets between Olympics, but she knows how to compete. I’m expecting some big things form the reigning Olympic Champ in Rio.

SwimBreaststroke
8 years ago

Way to go Schmitty! So happy that you’re finally back on track for a possible comeback to defend your Olympic title

Splash
8 years ago

Being sponsored by adidas I thought she would be wearing an adidas suit, not one with the speedo logo blacked out…

Zanna
8 years ago

* Alisson

Zanna
8 years ago

Yay, Alison is back! And darn it she won’t be in Kazan.

DDias
8 years ago

More than beat the old CR, before today, only Sippy and Dana Volmmer(1:59.80) dipped under 2minutes in panams.

Mike Schwarz
8 years ago

Great job Schmitty!!!’ Go Plymouth Canton!!! You did it, it can’t be taken away!!!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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