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WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS
Meet record: 4:34.04 Elizabeth Beisel (USA)
American record: 4:31.12, Katie Hoff
Australian record: 4:29.45, Stephanie Rice
Canadian record: 4:35.84, Tanya Hunks
Japanese record: 4:35.69, Miho Takahashi
Australia All-comers record: 4:31.46, Stephanie Rice (AUS)
The session started off with the B-finals of the 400 IM’s. Because Hali Flickinger scratched the 400 IM, there were only 16 finalists, which allowed every swimmer to have a second swim. The American’s took full advantage of that, finishing 1-2-3-4 in the women’s 400 IM. Caitlin Leverenz led the charge with her time of 4:38.31. That time is still slower than Beisel’s and DiRado’s from US Nationals, which means they will be added to the 2015 World Champs roster in this event. Becca Mann finished second (3:39.93), followed by Cammile Adams and Melanie Margalis.
In the A-final heat of the women’s 400 IM, Elizabeth Beisel defended her title from 2010 to win the event, breaking the Pan Pacs record with her time of 3:31.99. Maya DiRado finished not far behind her., securing a 1-2 finish for the United States. DiRado hit the wall with her time of 4:35.27. Keryn McMaster won the bronze medal with her time of 4:38.84.
Finishing in fourth was Sakiko Shamizu of Japan at 4:39.29 and in fifth was Miho Takahashi at 4:40.86.
Thank you Caitlin and SwimSwam for the courage to share! Grateful you followed Jesus’ calling Caitlin. Keep it up!
Caitlin, Thanks for being willing to step up and share truth with others. it is easy in swimming to lose track of days….and lose track of other things that are important. We have watched your leadership and journey and thank God for you. Best of success to you.
Swimswam, thanks for posting this interview. What a great young woman…inside and out of the pool.
My favourite Celestial Intervention was Jackie Joyner-kersie on the long jump straight in 87 (?) worlds. Her husband / coach yelled out ‘ GOD wants you to win ” . She did though I am inclined to think she had the same help as her sis – in – law Florence . But fierce she was .
Sports fans of no everyday religious fervour are known to make private agreements like this ….Please God if you let my team win I will give up profanities etc. There was a study that concluded that God had a stronger presence in sport than any other aspect outside of ( formerly weddings) & always funerals .
SwimSwam,
Thanks for your willingness to share this aspect of the team’s time in Australia.
Congrats to the “God Squad”!! Maybe somebody’s god got bored with the USA winning so many Pan Pacs over the last few decades and threw them a weather challenge this time around to shake them up from their complacency heading toward Kazan and Rio. If so, the response, like the weather, was mixed, but overall successful.
That weather challenge in Gold Coast reminded me of my mom, in the car growing up she had religious icons in the car in the form of those laminated holy cards you could hang on a string from the mirror, along with mounted plastic figurines. When the weather got bad we’d tease her by singing “I don’t care if it rains or freezes,… Read more »
LIQUID ASSETS:
YES! this statement —>’needs for sport to be as neutral a playing ground as possible regarding politics and religion.’ This world has seen and is seeing enough ‘us v. them’ mentality. Sport is a way to bring all people together [insert religious rebuttal, ‘but my god IS their god,’ here].
It’s OK US Swimming will also be having Koran devotionals in 30-40 years so eventually nobody will feel left out. I forgot to mention in my mom story that she used to drive us to swim meets in the northeast where tornados, thunderstorms, and blizzards were a real possibility. I have to admit she and her Plastic Jesus did have close to a 100% track record for getting us to meets safely and on time other than a few stops for speeding tickets (her nickname was “Leadfoot Mary” by the other swim parents) over the years, and only a few times we couldn’t make it/or the meet got cancelled for bad weather. Divine providence or just lucky? 😉
I agree with Liquid and would take his comments a bit further. I wonder how do teammates that have other faiths or are atheist feel about this. Do they feel left out? It reminds me of when I was going to a private grade school (nominally non-religious but in another country) and everyone but me went to do a first communion, or when there were religious classes and I had to go to the library.
Was interesting to hear some of the comments here during Missy’s recruitment about how her faith would be received in Berkeley. Leverenz was a two-time Captain of the women’s team at the time. Many of the the rising senior class are very involved with Athletes in Action, including former Captains Caroline Piehl and Catherine Breed. Tom Shields majored in Religious Studies at Cal and has talked about become a Minister some day.
Caitlin, you are such a blessing and a shining light! Your leadership and boldness encourages and empowers many others who loves Jesus but are at a place where you were thinking “maybe it is not my place”. I thank God for you, the interviewer and also for Mel/SwimSwam for posting this. God is moving mightily in our sport raising warriors for Him. Praise God!
Thank you for listening to “this calling” and responding in such a wonderful way. It is such a blessing to hear and know that some of our Elite swimmers, even with their hectic lifestyles, are still grounded in what is really important in the “big picture” of life. God Bless you!