Natalie Coughlin, 12-time Olympic medalist, sits down wtih SwimSwam anchor Garrett McCaffrey.
At the Mesa Grand Prix Natalie swam a personal best time in the 50 free, 24.90, signaling a “sprint” shift in her career for the future.
2013 Mesa Grand Prix Women’s 50 freestyle as reported by Morgan Priestley:
To close out the evening session, we saw another great effort from Natalie Coughlin. After swimming a season-best 100 free yesterday morning that was good for top ten in the world, she was destined for a great swim in the 50. When all was said and done, Coughlin broke 25 seconds for the first final time since 2008. Her final time was 24.90, tops among Americans, and tied for 5th-best in the world this year. After taking a break this summer, Coughlin appears to have put the other strokes on the back burner, focusing almost exclusively on the sprint freestyles, which includes training extensively with Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin. Jessica Hardy, who finaled for the U.S. in this event last summer in London, was 2nd in 25.38. Christine Magnuson touched just behind in 3rd (25.47).
2013 Mesa Grand Prix Women’s 100 freestyle as reported by Braden Keith:
The biggest “wow” of the meet’s first session came from Natalie Coughlin, who is swimming her first meet on American soil as a 30-year old this weekend. She swam a 54.44 to easily take the top seed in the 100 free in 54.44. She’s now been better than 55 seconds in this race in every meet she’s raced since the Olympics (this is her third), showing that she still has great value at least on American relays this summer (though with how well she’s swimming, it’s far too early to write her off for individual bids either).
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This video was produced by SwimSwam co-founder, Garrett McCaffrey.
She doesn’t seem to have the 200 “endurance” to compete at the top with today’s competition. It was very clear last summer that 65 meters was her max capacity. I’m talking about what she appears to be capable of today with today’s competition.
I agree. Smart move. She doesn’t have a chance in the other events with Franklin and the others in the mix. Still I think 50 is her best bet and of course 100 is the easier ticket to the games.
I would never say that Nat could not do anything. If she wanted to just focus on back, the others should watch out she has proven to be the best female swimmer of all time. I would bet a lot of money on her this summer!
She has always been first class.
Loves the interview!
She certainly didn’t prove she could this last summer. I’d say Franklin is well on the way of proving she is the best of all time. Also it helps if you can swim more than 100 meters to be considered best of all time.
Natalie has been an American Record breaker in 200 lcm free, 200 scy free, 200 lcm back, 200 scm back, 200 scy back, and 200 lcm IM. Not just a 50, and 100 swimmer.
Let’s not get ahead of things too quickly. Franklin has had a great start to what should be a terrific career. “Will be” the best of all time? Maybe — it’s still to be proven. “Is the best of all time”? Too soon.
Who is the best of all time? Janet Evans! She didn’t have the opportunity to rack up all the medals in her events since there aren’t relays like that. But she dominated like no other U.S. female has. And she beat the East German steroid program. End of story! Perhaps Franklin will be as good.
“She swam a 54.44 to easily take the top seed in the 100 free in 54.44”
You don’t say??
Great interview Garrett, as always! Random question…why are these posted on vimeo instead of youtube? seems like you’d get a bigger audience that way…and generate more traffic to the site? Just wondering! Keep up these interviews! Some of the best!
I was thinking the same thing. Also, Vimeo has much slower buffering speeds than youtube.
Legendary swimmer, great person, smart, and self-aware-Natalie has the whole package. Training with Adrian and Ervin, coached by Durden and Folker, and mentored by Teri will definitely extend her career. Solid potential path for Missy as well-she’ll probably be able to swim a full program (back and free) through 2020, but she may need to narrow her focus if she wants to continue through 2024.
I am a Huge fan of Natalie’s! As Weirdo said: always a class act!
Natalie is a legend. Great decision to focus on sprint freestyle.
And if someone could post one day on youtube her 100 back race of Fort Lauderdale in 2002 when she shocked the swimming world with a fantastic 59.58, it would be cool. And while I’m here to talk about the races I’m desperately looking for, I can mention the first world record of MP in 2001 and his first world title the same year too. Thank you.
Me too! I would kill to see MP’s first world record as well as his 2001 World Championship gold medal. I have seen all of his other races but never the 2001.
Great Interview. Natalie is always a class act.