Nate Biondi Drops 23.2 in 50 Meter Free

2017 GWSC Long Course Meet

  • 50-Meter Course
  • Friday, May 12th
  • Riverside Aquatic Complex (Riverside, California)

Just a day after sweeping the sprint titles at the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division 3 Championships, Sierra Canyon’s Nate Biondi was putting up fast times in the long course pool. Golden West Swim Club, the site of the championships, hosted a long course meet to give wimmers a chance to put up some times in the meters pool after the CIF meet.

Biondi, a Cal commit, rocked a 23.32 in the 50 free at that meet, winning the race by over a second ahead of Brad Prolo (24.66). That knocked 3 tenths off his former best time, which stood at a 23.62 from the 2017 TYR Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions.

Prolo went on to put up the fastest 100 free of the meet, clocking in at 53.88 ahead of Brandon Yong (54.85).

One of the highlights from the women came from National Junior Teamer Taylor Ault in the 400 free. Ault was the only woman in the field to put up a sub-4:20 time. She hit the wall in 4:17.51, finishing 8 seconds ahead of Kathleen Sulkevich (4:25.65).

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Joel Lin
6 years ago

Did Nate play water polo? That would be kind of creepy because when his pops started to focus on swimming more as a high school swimmer, he…

Well, you know.

Admin
Reply to  Joel Lin
6 years ago

…creepy? Are you sure the word Creepy is the word you meant to use?

Joel Lin
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

Cryptic or ominous would be better.

His pops was a more notable water polo enthusiast in high school. Turned out he was a pretty good sprinter too.

Speed Racer
6 years ago

I am confused a 23.32 is a 23.2?

Nah
6 years ago

Don’t get me wrong, 23.2 is a great time for a guy his age. But I’m wondering if the media buzz around is more due to who his father is.
It’s funny, if he were to equal his dad’s time one day in the 100 (48.4) he’ll make the 400 free relay. 30 years later and it’s still a world class time.

fatsmcgee
Reply to  Nah
6 years ago

Matt Biondi’s 48.4 would have medaled as recently as 2004. It has to be one of the most ahead-of-its-time freestyle performances ever. Only a few other races of the same calibur come to mind immediately:

– Janet Evans’ 400/800 WRs (would have medaled in 2016!!!)
– Thorpe’s 3:40.5 400 freestyle from 2000 (his 3:40.1 from 2002 would beat every olympian/world champ except 2009 Biedermann)
– Ledecky’s 400/800 WRs (we’ll see how they fare in 20 years but I feel pretty confident about this one…)

Honorable Mentions:
– Tom Jager’s 21.81 in 1990 (gold in 2004, bronze in 2011 world champs)
– Keiren Perkins 14:41 in 1994 (bronze in 2008, bronze in 2015 world champs)

Calbearfan
Reply to  fatsmcgee
6 years ago

I’d add Mary T’s 2:05 fly in 1981 to this list. That time medals in 84, 88, 92, 96, 00, 04 and 08. Wow!

fatsmcgee
Reply to  Calbearfan
6 years ago

I was purposefully limiting to freestyle swims, but totally agree! That is the Bob Beamon performance of swimming (and even better since Mary T wasn’t a flash in the pan)

fatsmcgee
Reply to  Calbearfan
6 years ago

Her stroke was so beautiful and economical. Gotta love this high elbow catch:

http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/swim/champion/mtmaway.htm

M Palota
Reply to  fatsmcgee
6 years ago

Matt Biondi split a 47 from a flying start. in 1986(?) at that year’s PanPacs. It was in Tokyo, I think. You kids 😉 have no idea what it was like hearing about that swim in the pre-internet days! I couldn’t believe it!!

And no list of all-time swims is complete without Mary T’s 2:05.96 in the 2-fly from 1981. No underwater, no kneeskin. Hell, no goggles!! She have been 5th in Rio.

Rafael
Reply to  M Palota
6 years ago

Forgetting the backstroke queen egerszegi 2:06:62? This time would medal in all games after her retirement right?

fatsmcgee
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

I was limiting to freestyle on purpose, but totally agree.

jimswim
Reply to  fatsmcgee
6 years ago

Johnny Weismuller? Records stood for decades

bobo gigi
6 years ago

At that pace he breaks Walters’ stupid 100 free American record in the next 2 years. 🙂

Captain Awesome
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

New drinking game. Take a shot every time Bobo mentions Walter’s ‘stupid’ record. Two shots whenever they question why anyone wants to see Dressel swim anything other than 50/100 free. 5 shots whenever a yards pool is referred to as a bathtub.

Swammer181
Reply to  Captain Awesome
6 years ago

I want dressel to swim the 200im, I bet he could break the NCAA record in a bathtub!

Crannman
Reply to  Captain Awesome
6 years ago

Love this!

Pvdh
Reply to  Captain Awesome
6 years ago

No thanks. I don’t wanna die

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Walters was a great swimmer. Give it a break.

SwimGeek
6 years ago

This guy is dropping chunks of time. Very bright future!

Sunny
Reply to  SwimGeek
6 years ago

I wish him the best, and a bright future, but with Coley gone don’t expect big improvements. We’ve seen this pattern with all Coley’s swimmers from the teams that he coached. Once he moved on to another team, those kids left behind will not perform at the same level. His training is unique and the improvements are spectacular. Just watch Indiana’s next year performance… Again, I don’t want to take away any of Nate’s accomplishments! Great job!

James
Reply to  Sunny
6 years ago

I think what you have is a naturally talented swimmer, who didn’t really get started until he was already in high school. Not to take anything away from any coach, but a Golden Retriever with a clip board and whistle could have taken an athletic kid like Nate from where he was about 3-4 years ago and gotten him much faster.

What happens now will certainly fall on Nate’s continued willingness to train hard at Cal, and a certain amount of good fortune for exactly how fast he can get.

Wilson
Reply to  Sunny
6 years ago

Question…How many of Coley’s elite swimmers were female and how many male? It’s way more common for elite female swimmers to struggle in college than male swimmers.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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