Lydia Jacoby Looking Forward to Opportunities Presented by Going Pro, Focusing on LCM Season

Olympic champion Lydia Jacoby recently announced her decision to forego her remaining 2 years of NCAA eligibility and transition to being a professional athlete. Jacoby will continue to pursue her degree in fashion at Texas and for the time being, train in Austin. However, this will allow her more flexibility to travel, rest in the fall, and compete in events like the World Cup and Pro Swim series.

Jacoby openly discusses her decision in addition to her summer of travel, going to New York Fashion Week, and what her swimming might look like moving forward.

***Apologies for the video playback. Our connection was a bit shaky throughout the interview, so there is some lag in parts of the video. The audio quality should be unaffected***

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Masters swammer
2 months ago

This is off-topic, but I’d like to know why Lillie Nesty and Piper Enge aren’t on the 2024-2025 Texas womens’ roster.

The only freshman listed is Kate Hurst.

swimswimswim
Reply to  Masters swammer
2 months ago

Sienna Schellinger (Idk last name) is a sophomore or junior and also not listed on roster, but seems to be training

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Masters swammer
2 months ago

They saw Texas women performance at Trials and NCAAs and got cold feet.

Masters swammer
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
2 months ago

Do you have any basis for saying that, or just speculating?

In the absence of any other info, I was going to guess some folks had decided to delay starting classes until January (though I’m not completely sure why you would do that).

Phil
2 months ago

I don’t understand where she’s at. She goes pro because she wants to swim less and have more free time? Isn’t that contradictory? And she goes pro but has no plan, no coach, …? Isn’t that too a contradiction?
I hope we’ll see more of (a happy) Jacoby though !

Owlmando
2 months ago

1:03 incoming

Viking Steve
Reply to  Owlmando
2 months ago

This made me giggle a little

Snarky
Reply to  Owlmando
2 months ago

And MA is winning the 200 IM in LA. Sarcasm

CINCOKAT
2 months ago

Another elite athlete finding her way outside the pool. What a great role model, in that she is intelligent, articulate and looking for her passion outside the pool. If swimming takes a backseat to her love of fashion, I say “go for it”. And although its only mentioned briefly, we, as fans, need to understand that the Mental Health side of elite athletes is so very important. Her interview with Missy Franklin and Katie Hoff on their podcast “Unfiltered Waters” touches on that a bit more. It’s worth a watch. Congratulations, Lydia on your choices!!! And good luck with whatever passion you chase!!!

Jonathan
2 months ago

What will all the Lilly King haters say after she retires and there are no other American women who can split 1:04 breaststroke on the medley relay?

Ashe
Reply to  Jonathan
2 months ago

We won’t need a 1:04 breast split when we have a 55 flat fly leg

Lisa
Reply to  Jonathan
2 months ago

There’s a few swimmers that potentially can go 1:05 on the relay like Dobler and I wouldn’t count out Douglass cause she also 1:06 breastroker and the same also with Walsh.

Applesandoranges
2 months ago

She has nothing left to prove. Maybe her coach from Alaska should move down to TX for a bit to see if LJ can get back on track. If she wants to model and travel the world, that’s her business. She’s a ginger so she should get a lot of modeling gigs. Good luck to her with whatever she decides.

Former swimmer
Reply to  Applesandoranges
2 months ago

Exactly. She reached the pinnacle of her sport so she doesn’t need to do anything to prove anything to anyone

RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

After Tokyo she threw swimming into the bottom of the GRAND CANYON and has taken up fashion

We need her to step up I’m sick of Lilly King going 1:04 at trials and then going 1:09 when it actually matters

Yikes
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

This take is problematic

This Guy
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

We don’t NEED her to do anything. She can do whatever she wants.

Lisa
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

Wait a minute who’s going 1:09 ?

Last edited 2 months ago by Lisa
Viking Steve
Reply to  Lisa
2 months ago

Not RealCrocker5040…..

Steve Bliss
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

Except when it REALLY mattered in the 400 medley relay in Paris

Xman
2 months ago

Why does her voice give me Elizabeth Holmes vibes?

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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