Bahamian speed demon Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, who has been on a break from competitive swimming for the past year, has decided to make a return to training full-time.
Per her Facebook post dated today, July 17th, ‘AVW’ says, “after a year away from competitive swimming I have made the decision to go back to full time swimming. I’ve learned so much about myself as well as the sport, since I had the opportunity to stay very much involved while I was working with the Auburn Swimming and Diving Program.”
As of August 2016, AVW had been serving as Director of Operations at her alma mater, where she was a three-time NCAA Champion and broke multiple NCAA and U.S. Open Records. Leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games, the Bahamian national record holder had been training under David Marsh at Team Elite based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her highest Olympic finish in Rio was 9th in the 50m freestyle.
Per today’s announcement, Vanderpool-Wallace will return to the mid-Atlantic region to train under coach Todd DeSorbo as a Wolfpack Elite member alongside the likes of Olympian Cullen Jones.
“It was not an easy decision, returning to the sport as well as deciding to leave Auburn. I am very grateful that Coach Todd DeSorbo and the NC State crew have accepted me with open arms! I am incredibly excited and can’t wait to see what the future holds!!,” says the 2015 Pan American gold medalist about her new adventure.
Arianna is a class act…she spoke to and gave her gold medals won at this year’s Bahamas National Championships in June to my 9/10 girls who are always thrilled to see her at home and talk with her.
“For personal reasons however I just could not stay in Auburn and be mentally healthy there.”
Thats odd.
Yes, what does she mean by this? Hope everything is alright!
Football season is approaching. It gets weird.
This probably all comes back to working with Brett Hawke. She stayed and thrived during her undergrad as a swimmer, but not an employee.
Let’s not assumed… she gave all credit and respect Brett. She may just need something new. Raleigh is a cool spot for young professionals
A Bahamian woman in Trump-era Auburn, Alabama: what could go wrong? Remember, white nationalist Richard Spencer spoke there in April 2017 after a court ruling overruled the university’s cancellation. Lots of inflamed (and violent) protests.
Person of color, check. Woman, check. Foreigner, check. Pretty much hit the trifecta. No wonder her mental health wasn’t the greatest there.
NC State has recently picked up 3 male swimmers from the Auburn program.
Welcome to the Pack.
Great move for her!! Good luck Arianna!!
Damn. If she’s all in, then this should be good. AVW is an incredibly powerful swimmer and NC State is basically a speed factory, so let’s see what they can do with her.
Probably inspired by Cullen’s good showing at Trials.
Wonder what her back squat is up to now? Remember SwimSwam posted a video of her doing something like 365 pounds with Lochte helping to spot her.
I remember that, too. Lochte had this look on his face that was either “Holy s$#!” or “I hope she can make it up, cuz I’m not going to be able to lift it.”
heres the link-https://swimswam.com/swimmings-toptentweets-of-the-week-6-beisel-throws-it-back-to-her-first-olympic-medal/
Mmm….not sure what that is but that’s not a real squat.