Former TCU Swimmer Stevens; Michigan Swimmer Potts First Out of Water at Ironman World Champs

There’s always quite a bit of former Division I swimming representation at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and this year was no different. Former TCU swimmer Amanda Stevens was the first to complete the swim on the women’s side, and former Michigan All-American Andy Potts was the first to finish the men’s swim.

Stevens completed the 2.4 mile swim in 54:25, and Potts emerged from the water in 50:56.

While no American has won the Ironman World Championship since 2002 (since 1996 for women), the Americans are typically very strong in the swimming portion of the event. Last year, Georgia alum Haley Chura was first out of the water on the women’s side, and the event record on the swim is a 46:41 belonging to former Olympian and current Kentucky head coach Lars Jorgensen.

Potts is a former All-American and Michigan and a two-time individual Big Ten Champion. Stevens is a former All-Conference swimmer at TCU, and her brother and sister both swam in college as well.

After the swim, athletes (who are still on the course) will go into a 112 mile bike ride and a full marathon (26.2 miles) in the ultimate test of pure athletic endurance.

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Jimmy Tierney
9 years ago

Maary Beth Ellis, 9th overall in women and 2nd fastest USA female, swam at Northwestern University.

9 years ago

Marybeth Ellis former Northwestern swimmer out first for women.

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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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