Maya DiRado Becomes 5th-Fastest American Female 200 Backstroker in History

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

Maya DiRado of Stanford became the fifth-fastest female American 200 backstroker in history today after clocking 2:06.90 to win her third event of the week.

She joins a star-studded roster of swimmers in the top five American female backstrokers. The list is below:

  1. Missy Franklin: 2:04.06 (2012)
  2. Margaret Hoelzer: 2:06.09 (2008)
  3. Elizabeth Beisel: 2:06.18 (2012)
  4. Elizabeth Pelton: 2:06.29 (2013)
  5. Maya DiRado2:06.90 (2016)

Tonight, she split out the middle 100 faster than anyone else in the field, allowing her to gain a second lead on second-place defending Olympic champion Missy Franklin of the Colorado Stars, who finished the race in 2:07.89. See DiRado’s splits below:

  • 30.32 (r .59)
  • 31.93 (1:02.25)
  • 32.05 (1:34.30)
  • 32.60 (2:06.90)

DiRado was this week’s first triple champion, soon to be followed by Katie Ledecky. Earlier in the meet, she scored victories (and Olympic roster spots) in the 400 IM in 4:33.73 and the 200 IM in 2:09.54.

Her time from today ranks her fourth in the world this year, less than half a second from first-ranked Belinda Hocking of Australia, who scored 2:06.49 at Australian Olympic Trials.

2015-2016 LCM Women 200 BACK

MayaUSA
DI RADO
08/12
2.05.99
2Katinka
HOSSZU
HUN2.06.0308/11
3Belinda
HOCKING
AUS2.06.4904/13
4Emily
SEEBOHM
AUS2.06.5904/13
5Daria K.
USTINOVA
RUS2.06.9204/22
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Attila the Hunt
8 years ago
Cynthia mae Curran
8 years ago

Yeah, Maya is 23 years old. Its cool when one of the top female swimmers are in their 20’s.

G.I.N.A.
Reply to  Cynthia mae Curran
8 years ago

I watched your vid of the 63 nationals . I never knew much about Donna De Varona but only that she was very popular & made a career for herself in the media /public speaking.

She was really a good little swimmer & very well spoken . Definitely the x factor . She was so high & light & a lot of similarities to Di Rado.

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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