Hardcore Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer or water polo player who has proven themselves truly hardcore over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Hardcore Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
It was as fast a start as possible to the professional career of Chase Kalisz.
Less than three weeks after wrapping up his collegiate career at men’s NCAAs, Kalisz competed in his first meet as a pro, the Mesa Pro Swim Series, to great success. Kalisz tied for the most points scored of any swimmer at the meet, pulling in 18 points on three wins and a second place.
Kalisz didn’t even contest the first two stops of the Pro Swim Series, but he’s already rocketed to 4th place in the men’s standings. His 18-point haul in Mesa was the third-best single meet scoring output of any swimmer this year, behind only 20 from Daiya Seto in Austin and 19 from Melanie Margalis at that same meet.
On top of that, Kalisz’s times were outstanding. His winning 400 IM time still ranks #5 worldwide (4:11.01), and he’s the only swimmer in the top 5 to not yet swim at his nation’s championship meet and World Champs selection meet for the season. His 200 IM time also ranks #5.
Kalisz even won the 200 fly in a surprise 1:55.82, a time that sits 10th worldwide. His upset of Olympian Tom Shields there pairs with his upset of Olympian Kevin Cordes in the 200 breaststroke. Kalisz was second in that event, going 2:11.29.
With Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte both out this summer, Team USA will look to Kalisz to lead its historically dominant IM group. Based on the month of April, Kalisz appears up to the task.
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Chase’s only weakness seems to be his backstroke. I’m sure he works on it.
An improved backstroke would get him past Hagino.
Then we wouldn’t have to hear Kosuke’s “Banzai” screaming after KH wins.
His backstroke sure was beautiful in Mesa in the 400IM.
He said recently in an interview he feels like backstroke is one of his strongest legs right now and he’s not used to that. Considering his 1:55 2fly and 2:11 2breast, that may mean big things in Budapest…
My favorite “Banzai” scream of all time – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8127SmGbQ
Go to 0:49
His backstroke has deeply improved i would say , compare to 2 years ago ( world Championships in Kazan ) . He will have the summer of his life comes June and July .
I predict gold in the 400IM. His Mesa swim was beautiful. Tapered will be a swim to watch in Budapest. This is one race I am looking forward to.