2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet website
- Meet information
- Event Order
- Full selection procedures
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Previews Index
- TV Schedule
- Pick ‘Em Contest
- Omega Results
- Live Stream
- Friday Prelims Heat Sheet
Katie Ledecky raced prelims of the 200 free Thursday at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships in a practice suit, prompting many to wonder if she was just that confident.
Well, she might have been, but that wasn’t the reason. She told the media Thursday night that she ripped two racing suits before prelims, and thus with time running out before her swim, had to opt for the practice suit. She posted the following on her Instagram story:
Ledecky cruised to a 3rd-place prelims finish, going 1:56.83. She later won finals in 1:54.60.
Reports of suits ripping have been common throughout the meet so far – Kathleen Baker also ripped two before her 200 back win Thursday night. Thanks to the Southern California heat, sweat, moisture, and busy locker rooms have made it particularly difficult to put on the über-tight suits.
She is simply put ,
a Champion,
what does it matter.
I feel like there were always suit company reps at these meets back in my day who had tons of backups who would replace suits if they ripped, regardless of the swimmer. is this not the case any more? Feel like the tyr rep would have a cache of back-ups especially for their sponsored athletes
I think it was more of a running out of time issue than a not having backup suits issue.
All of these indoor swimmers who don’t have to deal with sweating in outdoor facilities. Too bad there isn’t better ventilation for the locker rooms.
Also, a suit that sticks because of sweat is inevitably going to rip. It doesn’t matter what brand it is.
Having second thoughts about signing with TYR, Katie?
Don’t understand all the downvotes. Wouldn’t want my suits to be ripping left and right before big races.
Kathleen wears Speedo so they can all rip under these conditions. Not specific to TYR
But you know what hasn’t ripped yet? The new A3 Vici tech suit
Good anecdote of how much a tech suit helps. Sounds like she went “finals effort” in the prelims to make sure she qualified. She was 1.1 seconds./100 faster in the finals with the tech suit.
#swimmerproblems