Virginia 3rd-Year Jack Aikins recently got precious international experience while competing at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in Budapest. During the 200 Back final, Aikins noticed (too late) that the backstroke flags were uneven during the race, throwing him off a bit heading into the walls. Aikins says it was a good lesson in learning to control what you can control.
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Jaikins is a diamond in the rough on a team of mediocrity
Maybe he should learn how to make it past the flags kicking underwater
What an exemplary role model! Jack has faced a lot of disappointment but always learns from it and moves on to the next challenge. He always stays positive and simply loves this sport.
Give me his eyebrow person. They look great
What a weird week for UVA men on swimswam. They have had 2 interview/articles about individuals who are great model swimmers and talk about the team in high regards but then have two scorers drop out.
Not to be a conspiracy theorist but the timing of all of this seems suspect. Is the UVA coaching staff pushing these to get in front of something?
We all know that coaches always push swimswam for coverage…..
Perhaps jobs/careers are calling? Both of the exited guys have UVa degrees. In my experience, young men in their early 20s tend to pursue careers after college. Unless, or if, you are Blutarsky from Animal House fraternity at Faber College.
When elite swimmers disappear from the roster just 6 weeks before their final ACC meet *with no explanation* it seems pretty unlikely it’s bc that job at McKinsey came calling. Connery is a senior and presumably would like to finish his degree.
I had planned this trip to UVA (Dec 28-30) in October. So while I agree that it is very weird timing… from my perspective, that’s all it is. I can confirm this was not spearheaded by UVA (they were exceedingly accommodating as always though).
SwimSwam routinely reports on high-impact roster changes and they just happened to be coming from UVA at the same time I am putting out the content I got from that trip.
Great interview. Easy to see how he emerged as a leader, one who will leave UVa as a three-time captain. A true gentleman.