USA Swimming has been releasing videos highlighting the USA Olympic swimmers, and in this video Jacob Pebley shares some background on his swimming career.
In the video, Pebley tells the audience about his younger years in the sport, claiming that he started swimming at 3 years old with swim lessons. He says that he cried every time he had a lesson, but at 6 he joined a club team and has loved competing ever since.
He recalls winning his first state title in the 25 back and how the pride his parents felt for him has motivated Pebley to swim his fastest. Pebley then briefly discusses how swimming has helped him form relationships and that his future is bright because of his involvement in the sport. Lastly, he shares how swimming for the United States is an honor and a dream come true.
From his SwimSwam bio:
Coming out of high school as one of the top male recruits, Pebley committed to the University of California-Berkeley to swim under head coach Dave Durden. During his freshman year, Pebley made quite the name for himself finishing with Cal’s third-best all-time swim in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:41.62, and Cal’s tenth-best all-time swim in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 47.22. Pebley qualified to swim at the 2013 NCAA Championships in the 200-yard IM, the 100-yard backstroke, and the 200-yard backstroke. Pebley even swam as a member of Cal’s medley relays. He finished the 2013 NCAA’s with a 40th-place finish in the 200-yard IM, a seventh-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, and a third-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. Pebley also swam as a member of the prelims 400-yard medley relay that went on to place second in finals.
At the 2014 Pac-12 Championships, Pebley’s sophomore season, he finished 12th in the 200-yard individual medley (1:45.70), third in the 100-yard backstroke (46.34), and second in the 200-yard backstroke (1:40.38). Pebley went on to the NCAA Championships to place fifth in the 400-yard medley relay (3:06.49- BK split 46.40), 11th in the 100-yard backstroke (46.09), and fourth in the 200-yard backstroke (1:39.59). In his junior year at the NCAA Championships, Pebley swam the 100 and 200 yard backstroke and 200 meter medley. His best finish was fifth in the 200 yard backstroke. Pebley saved his best season for his last season as a Cal Bear. At the NCAA Championships he finished second in the 200 yard backstroke, beaten only by his Cal teammate Ryan Murphy. He added points with a sixth place in the 100 yard backstroke and in the 200 medley ‘B’ final.
For the fifth, consecutive year, Pebley was named a member of the US National Team, the 2013-2014 US National Team, representing Team USA as a 200-meter backstroker. At the 2014 Phillips 66 National Championships Pebley finished 5th in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 53.90 and fourth in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:56.68. His top-eight performances in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke earned Pebley a spot on his sixth, consecutive US National Team Roster for 2014-2015. Shortly after Nationals, Pebley traveled to Gold Coast, Australia for the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships. Pebley finished the meet with a 1:58.46 200-meter backstroke and a 54.57 100-meter backstroke.
Not much can top qualifying for your first Olympics, but doing so with your teammate might. Pebley finished second in the 200 meter backstroke behind his Cal teammate Ryan Murphy to punch his ticket to Rio. The pair will make their Olympic debut together.
His reaction to making the team was my favorite of trials
Jacob has systematically progressed from club to Jr to National Team. I feel his progress in LC is just at the top of his potential as he fills out his body frame and core strength improves to match his straighter stroke. Go For it Pebbles