Olivia and Natalie Give Tearful Interview After Making Olympics Side-by-Side

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE FINAL

  • World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 51.71 (2017)
  • American Record: Simone Manuel – 52.04 (2019)
  • US Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA) – 52.54 (2018)
  • World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (CAN) – 52.70 (2016)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Simone Manuel (USA) / Penny Oleksiak (CAN) – 52.70
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 53.28
  • Wave I Cut: 56.29
  • Wave II Cut: 55.56
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 54.38
  1. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL), 53.53
  2. Erika Brown (TNAQ), 53.59
  3. Olivia Smoliga (ABSC), 53.63
  4. Natalie Hinds (ABSC), 53.84
  5. Catie Deloof (CA-Y), 53.87
  6. Allison Schmitt (SUN), 54.12

The wide-open women’s 100 freestyle came down to the wire, with speedster Abbey Weitzeil and Tennessee’s Erika Brown jumping on the lead early.

Brown, who squeaked into the final by two one-hundredths, provided some true outside smoke from Lane 8, blasting down the back-half as she looked like she was leading the pack.

Olivia SmoligaNatalie Hinds and Catie Deloof began to make up some ground down the stretch, but ultimately Weitzeil and Brown held on, going 1-2 with respective times of 53.53 and 53.59.

The victory for Weitzeil is her second straight in the event at Trials, having won in 2016, and was just off her season-best of 53.52 set in the prelims.

Brown, who was a bit off early in the meet, failing to advance out of the heats in the 200 free and 100 fly, stepped up big when it mattered, producing the third-fastest swim of her career—just shy of her best time of 53.42 set at the 2019 U.S. Open.

Smoliga (53.63), Hinds (53.84) and Deloof (53.87) all had slight adds from the semis, all qualifying for the team for the first time (though Deloof’s spot is not yet confirmed).

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Tyson
3 years ago

The winning time here would have just made top 6 at the Aussie trials by less then 0.1

Yup
3 years ago

Laine Higgins….walk into the ocean….

Konner Scott
Reply to  Yup
3 years ago

Not sure what this means, but Laine’s a great person.

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
3 years ago

Natalie Hinds took TWO years off and was basically retiring. Comeback of trials hands down!

Eagleswim
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
3 years ago

Gotta put Lazor in there too

gator
3 years ago

Hats off to both of these amazing athletes (and people too)!

Texas Tap Water
3 years ago

Thank heavens Smoliga and Hinds didn’t choose to overtrain!

Alex Dragovich
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
3 years ago

What is it about Manual that compels you to keep taking the same tired shot at her in comment after comment? Never mind that this article isn’t even about her.

Breezeway
Reply to  Alex Dragovich
3 years ago

You know what its about before you ask

Hypocritical
Reply to  Breezeway
3 years ago

Are you implying it’s about race? Because Natalie Hinds is also black….

Eagleswim
Reply to  Alex Dragovich
3 years ago

I’ll give you one guess

Crown
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
3 years ago

What a miserable bum

Azswummer
3 years ago

How about we give props to these ladies for getting it done- specially Natalie. Again, they’re yet another (the third of the night) pair training partners to make the team. Plenty of time to assess their medal chances. Let them enjoy their moment. It’s an achievement only a few ever achieve. You critics obviously are not one of these few….

Last edited 3 years ago by Azswummer
Lloyd
3 years ago

The times of the 100 fr US women are just
miserable. With Manuel out, there’s not goin’
to be an American lady in the final. As for the
4×100 fr (plus the 800 and the medley / mixed)
they better forget it. It’s just painful to watch…

Swammer
Reply to  Lloyd
3 years ago

So don’t watch. For me, it’s not painful. Painful is no swimming and everything we’ve all experienced these past several months. I’m going to watch and cheer. I’m so proud of every athlete coming back from this. It’s affected everyone and in fact it will take years to unpack. The friendship and love between Smoliga and Hinds. Incredible. Pods became families. When you compete the mindset you have is that you can do it. I found that the sprinters got more comfortable as they went along. Being around each other at the lead in to Tokyo will also help. Many have been very isolated. Manuel may make it in the 50. She can do it. Simply proud of every athlete… Read more »

Tomek
Reply to  Swammer
3 years ago

+ one, I’m just tired of whiners. I am certain these ladies will give all they got in Tokyo

John
Reply to  Lloyd
3 years ago

jesus Lloyd, have a snickers. You’re not yourself when you are hungry!

Little Mermaid
Reply to  Lloyd
3 years ago

Painful?

Little Mermaid
Reply to  Lloyd
3 years ago

Painful was not having a NCAA championships in 2020! And thousands of athletes not competing in 2020 that was Painful! Grow up!

Hypocritical
Reply to  Little Mermaid
3 years ago

Part of growing up is accepting criticism and realizing that you’re not always the best. Why don’t you try growing up?

Little Mermaid
Reply to  Hypocritical
3 years ago

I have lived my lifetime at 92 I’m done growing up Spanky

Boobstroke
3 years ago

I was saying during ISL because of how amazing she was doing, it would be scary to think Smoliga wouldn’t make the team – and missing the 100 back was worrying.

SOOOOO Happy for her now she’s got a spot and what a way to do it alongside a training bestie 🙂

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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