Meet 2016 US Olympian Chase Kalisz from Baltimore, Maryland, who will be make his 1st Olympic appearance at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games this summer in the men’s 400 meter IM. In his video, Kalisz talks about his Olympic Trials experience in 2012, and what it was like to swim next to Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
From his bio:
Chase Kalisz was born on March 7, 1994 in Bel Air, Maryland to parents Mike and Cathy. Kalisz began swimming at the age of 5, and he swims for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club and legendary coach, Bob Bowman.
Youth swimming
Kalisz graduated fom Fallston High School in 2012. That summer at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials he was fifth in the 200 IM and 6th in the 400 IM. Although he did not make the Olympic team, he was chosen for the 2012 Junior Pan Pacific Championship squad. At that meet, in Honolulu, Kalisz won the 400 IM in a meet record time of 4:12.59. He also won the 200 IM in another meet record time of 1:59.51.
Early career
Kalisz began to gain national attention in 2011 when he placed third behind Ryan Lochte and Thiago Pereira in the 400-meter IM at the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix. Later that year he swam a 4:18.43 in the 400-meter IM at the National Championships. He experienced international competition in 2011 as well. At the 2011 World Junior Championships in Peru he took 4th in the 200 IM and 200 breast as well as 6th in the 400 IM. And at the 2011 FINA World Cup meet in Moscow, Kalisz was 3rd in the 400 IM and 5th in the 200 breast. Perhaps it is not surprising that Kalisz was becoming a top-knotch IMer while training for Michael Phelps’ former coach. He has said that Phelps was a great training partner who constantly pushed him to swim faster.
College swimming
The IMer became a University of Georgia Bulldog in the fall of 2012. He made an immediate impact for Georgia, winning the 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard breaststroke, and 200-yard IM at his first collegiate meet, a tri-meet with North Carolina State and Savannah College of Art and Design. During that same year, Kalisz won the 400 IM at the 2012 AT&T Winter Nationals. He was also 3rd in the 200 IM and 8th in the 200 fly at that meet.
Shortly after being mentioned as a rising IM star by Phelps, Kalisz won the 400-yard IM at the 2013 NCAA Division 1 championships with a time of 3:38.05. A year later, he repeated as the 400 IM NCAA champion. In January of the 2014 season, Kalisz made some headlines after Georgia Coach, Jack Baurle, were suspended for some time following an academic eligibility review.
At the 2015 NCAA Championships Kalisz swam the 200-yard IM, 400-yard IM and 200-yard butterfly. He came in 15th in the 200 IM, and was the runner-up in the 400 IM. Going into his senior year Kalisz chose to redshirt the 2015-2016 season in order to focus on the 2016 Olympic Trials.
National and international swimming
Post-NCAAs in 2013, Kalisz dominated the 400-meter IM at the 2013 Charlotte Ultra Swim, winning the event in 4:15.66, a meet record. At the 2013 Santa Clara Grand Prix, the 400 meter IM was won by Ryan Lochte in 4:11.36, but Kalisz was a very close second in 4:11.85. Then, at the 2013 Phillips 66 National Championships, Kalisz earned a spot on the U.S. World Championship team by winning the 400 meter IM in 4:11.83. At the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Kalisz took home a silver medal in the 400-meter IM with a time of 4:09.22, winning his first major international medal.
Kalisz was a member of the 2013-2014 United States National Team. He swam his famous lineup at the 2014 U.S. National Championships, finishing third in the 200-meter butterfly, fifth in the 200-meter IM and second in the 400-meter IM. As a member of the National Team, Kalisz was selected to the 2014 Pan Pac’s roster — he won a bronze medal in the 400-meter IM.
2015 FINA World Championships
In Kazan, Russia Kalisz finished with a bronze in the 400 meter medley to add to his silver from two years before.
2016 U.S Olympic Trials
Kalisz became the first U.S swimmer to qualify for the Rio Games with a gold in 400 meter medley. He took control of the race during the breaststroke leg and despite efforts from Jay Litherland, Kalisz held on to take the title and automatic selection to his first Olympic Games.
No mention of him putting rice on the hood if his Indian team mates car as a way to pimp her
What does this even mean
No mention of his greatest achievement – 400y IM US Record!