US Olympic Team Head Coach Gregg Troy is setting up his own “Little London” in Gainesville. He has a great history of recruiting top British swimmers (Gemma Spofforth, Steph Proud), and now has added one of the country’s best distance swimmers in Jess Thielmann, who will come to the States in the fall.
Thielmann, an 18-year old from Newcastle, was the 2012 British Gas ASA National Champion in the 800 free (8:38.88) and placed 3rd in the 400 (4:14.4), both in long course meters. Those are the two most difficult events to convert to yards, but for example, the 400 free is about the same time as Cal sophomore-to-be Catherine Breed has been this year, and she was 11th at NCAA’s in the 500 with a 4:38.
The distance freestyles are not the Gators’ best discipline, but Thielmann adds some depth to a group that is already “solid.” Junior Elizabeth Beisel is an All-American in the 500, when she puts it on her schedule, and another junior, Alicia Mathieu, was 12th at NCAA’s last year.
With a 2:02 long course in the 200 free, which converts to around a 1:48-low in yards. The Gators’ 800 free relay was their best last season, and with only Teresa Crippen graduating, Thielmann should fight for the last spot this year.
The men’s team grabbed a pretty big international recruit too: Pawel Werner from Poland. Silver medalist in the 100/200 free at the FINA Junior Worlds. 50.4/1:49.3