If you’re not a fan of 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin, I don’t know if we can be friends. Natalie’s swim-fan-fun you can count on, medaling at the Olympics every time she steps on the blocks.
Natalie’s 33 years old. Is Omaha her last trip to U.S. Olympic Trials? I don’t think so. I take Natalie at her word when she says she loves the elite swimming lifestyle, staying in shaping, pushing her limits. Natalie’s going to stay fit and race fast as long as she possibly can.
Will she make the U.S. Olympic Team? That’s a tough question. Natalie’s on the bubble. When Natalie missed making the 2015 World Championship team, I was a little surprised. However, when she performed at the 2015 Pan Am Games, I was not surprised. Natalie’s a big meet swimmer. She simply knows how to race when it counts.
At U.S. Olympic Trials, Natalie rallies, turning in a great performance. I’d like to see Natalie makes her 4th Olympic Team on the 4×100 free relay, and I’d like to see her edge a spot in the 100 backstroke. That would put her in a position to win potentially 3 more medals, the third being a prelim swim on the 4×100 medley relay. I’ll concede Natalie’s in a fight for her life at US Olympic Trials, but with her Olympic track-record, I see her performing while other swimmers fall short due to nerves and pressure.
What do you think?
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TEA REX how does the US have way more upside?
Bohl is still proving and so is mcKeon and they are both still young.
I figure they were both shaved and tapered for Australian Trials. They may have great careers ahead of them, but I don’t expect them to drop much time in 4 months between trials and games.
I figure the USA has some legs that are under the radar because we haven’t had trials yet. We’ll see.
My prediction:
In Omaha, Natalie Coughlin wins the 100 back in a lifetime best 58.7.
She places 5th in the 100 free in 53.8.
I’m a huge fan; Natalie will always be one of my favorite swimmers.
It may be a bit difficult, but I’d be ecstatic to see Natalie as one of the two U.S. flag bearers at the Olympics (given that she qualifies). She’s such a class act and has consistently been a leader on the American team. She’s so deserving of it.
Regarding the women,s medley in rio, if georgia bohl can improve on breaststroke which is very likely as she has been improving every time she hits the water, then it,s game over. Australia gets the gold.
On backstroke, emily seebohm is in her own league in the 100 back.
On fly, emma mcKeon and Dana vollmer are basically well matched as of now ( at the moment) although mckeon,s sub 57 sec swim was is 3 rounds while vollmer,s was not. I,m looking forward to how she handles a 3 round swim at trials. I think she,ll be OK.
I also think McKeon will still improve.
On freestyle, no contest. Both Campbell sisters can swim 51 secs off a… Read more »
Back:
Seebohm 58.34 from November World Cup.
Coughlin 59.05 Pan Ams, didn’t focus on backstroke much at all last season.
Breast:
Bohl 1:06.12 at Australian Trials (presumably on a full taper)
King 1:05.73 at random in-season meet.
Fly:
McKeon 56.89 at Australian Trials (presumably on a full taper)
Vollmer 56.94 at random in-season meet.
Free:
C.Campbell 52.38. Sick.
American? 53.59. Vollmer, Ledecky, Weitzeil, Manuel, Neal have all been 54.0 since December, and before Trials.
That gives Australia a 1.5 second advantage, but USA has way more upside.
Gentlemen, I think we need to cool down here !
Carlo, I DO think you have got a little carried away with some of your statements. Barring something mindblowing at US Trials, Seebohm deserves favouritism in the 100back but she’s a long way from being untouchable or even dominant like a Sjostrom in the 100fly. Its actually hard to get a read on her 2016 form, esp her Trials. She was good but far from her “A game” as demonstrated by her loss in the 200back. WAS she fully tapered or is the 2016 vintage not at the level of the 2015 Seebohm ? A question for which we have no clear answer as yet.
Bohl has been on a… Read more »
Coughing can win 100 back if everything comes together. Missy will close if Natalie doesn’t have the closing speed she does at trials.
She’s tied with Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres as the most decorated American female Olympian so if she could get onto one of those relays, even if it’s just prelims, she’d have a good chance to pass them. Interestingly all three are/were sprinters (compared to Phelps who, at least earlier in his career, was a mid distance swimmer).
She’ll prolly swim the 50 too, right? That event’s pretty wide open and her starts have been pretty great recently.
About Natalie Coughlin, I’ve got so much respect for her that I’d like seeing her qualify for another olympic games.
The women’s 100 back is so open behind Missy. Anything can happen. She has a huge experience and knows how to swim fast at the right time.
She can also target a spot in the 4X100 freestyle relay.
Behind Missy??? I wouldn’t be surprised if she missed the team in the 100 back. Natalie can finish 1st at OTs and get a medal in Rio if she can go a 58.8 or faster.
Seebohm is in a league of her own.
But CHN swimmers, Hosszu, Nielsen, they’re all in together. Coughlin on her game can be RIGHT THERE in the mix.
There is the second australian girl too.
China’s 59flat swimmer from Kazan missed the team at their Trials with their Trials winner at 59.55. If Hosszu swims the event, then she is most certainly “at the party”. Nielsen was slipping under most people’s radar until Euros but that swim, plus her Kazan bronze says she’s very likely to factor.
Seebohm’s run of sub59s over the past 18months, on top her double IN azan certainly mark her as the deserving favourite …. barring anything earthshattering at US Trials. However, Seebohm is not in a position of complete dominance and its actually been hard to get a real read on her form this year. Her time at AUS Trials was excellent but certainly not her A game. Being rolled… Read more »
For Wilson, read medal factor i/o favourite
agree about Seebohm – she was at her best (PB) in 100 Back in 2012 Olympics (prelim – 58.23) and then got slower each round – she claimed that was a result of her not focusing enough (too much social media etc). She wasn’t faster in 2013 and 2014 and then become a 58+ machine in 2015. She raced less this year so it is hard to tell where she is at. But safe to say she has not improved in terms of being faster. If she can maintain her consistence in 2015 between rounds, she is hard to beat. But Missy or anyone hungrier could have caught her with the right mindset and taper.
Bobo – just want to say I always appreciate your comments. Long time reader of swimswam and first time poster!