Disclaimer: BlueSeventy Swim of the Week is not meant to be a conclusive selection of the best overall swim of the week, but rather one Featured Swim to be explored in deeper detail. The BlueSeventy Swim is an opportunity to take a closer look at the context of one of the many fast swims this week, perhaps a swim that slipped through the cracks as others grabbed the headlines, or a race we didn’t get to examine as closely in the flood of weekly meets.
It’s been a stellar career resurgence for California Aquatics Olympian Dana Vollmer.
It’s easy to forget that just 10 months ago, Vollmer wasn’t even competing. A two-year break after the 2013 World Championships left Vollmer appearing as a long shot for the U.S. Olympic roster even in the 100 fly, an event in which she won Olympic gold in London with a new world record.
Since her first swim of the comeback tour – which came last July – Vollmer has risen extraordinarily fast. And while she’s set herself up as a frontrunner for a 100 fly spot, her performances at the Arena Pro Swim Series at Charlotte suggest that she could once again be a multi-event Olympian.
Vollmer went 53.59 in the 100 freestyle in Charlotte – her best swim in that race since 2009 and easily her best of the textile era.
Previously, Vollmer had only been 54.44 during her career comeback run, a time that wouldn’t have been a factor on Team USA’s 4×100 free relay.
But Vollmer’s swim last weekend jumped her to the top of the American rankings for 2015-2016, and it also put her in the driver’s seat for a key leg on the U.S. relay come Rio. Here’s a look at what the projected relay (based on the top 4 Americans this season) looked like before and after Vollmer’s big swim:
| Pre-Charlotte | Post-Charlotte | ||
| Katie Ledecky | 53.75 | Dana Vollmer | 53.59 |
| Abbey Weitzeil | 53.77 | Katie Ledecky | 53.75 |
| Simone Manuel | 53.80 | Abbey Weitzeil | 53.77 |
| Lia Neal | 54.01 | Simone Manuel | 53.80 |
| 3:35.33 | 3:34.91 | ||
Vollmer’s time also puts her #9 in the world for this season. Though catching Australia may be out of the question for any relay in Rio, the Americans now have at least four big talents with a shot to challenge for 52-second splits – proving that all the fan hand-wringing about the state of American sprinting may be a bit premature.
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So awesome to see her continued success!
“All the fan hand-wringing….” 😆 Why I’m taking it personally? 😆
I’ve never said the US women’s 100 free was awful or horrible.
I’ve just wondered why USA struggles for such a long time in that event while being great in most of other events.
USA is not dominant in the women’s 100 free. To say the least. And for a very long time now. I think you agree?
Jared, USA doesn’t need 52-second splits but girls in 52 flat-start. That’s a little bit different.
Maybe the miracle will happen at trials. That’s all I want!
Then about Dana Vollmer, yes she looks amazing, but the women’s 4X100 free relay final in Rio is on… Read more »
All I got out of this article is that things are looking up for the US women in the 4×100 free, but I didn’t see any medal predictions. I do agree, the US could use some women with a 52 flat start, but until that happens it doesn’t hurt to recognize when they are making some progress.
Make no mistake about it though, Jared definitely fired a shot in Bobo’s direction. Let the games begin 🙂
Not meant as a slight to you, Bobo! You know I enjoy your commentary 🙂
And I definitely agree that sprint freestyle hasn’t been a strong point for the American women compared to some other event disciplines. I’m referring more to what I’m hearing from American fans who get a little bit concerned about their relay after seeing other nations swim fast at their own Olympic qualifying meets. We won’t know much until U.S. Trials, but I think some hometown fans are more worried than they need to be – with the exception of Australia (who shouldn’t lose outside of some sort of disaster), Team USA’s relay should be right in the hunt with everyone else.