2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS
- April 26-30, 2022
- Greensboro, NC
- Greensboro Aquatic Center
- LCM (50m)
- Start Times: Prelims – 9 am ET / Finals – 6 pm ET
- Worlds Qualifying Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- SwimSwam Pick ‘Em Contest
- How To Watch
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
Tokyo Olympian Paige Madden revealed via Instagram that she had been suffering from Hashimoto’s disease for over a decade, but it had not begun to seriously affect her swimming career until this season. She says that she will take the rest of the summer to focus on her mental and physical health. In addition, her coaches confirmed to SwimSwam that she would be withdrawing from the 400 free later in the meet.
Madden swam the 400 free individually at last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she placed 7th. She also swam prelims and finals legs on the American 800 free relay that earned a silver medal and set an American Record.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Hashimoto’s disease is an inflammation of the thyroid gland in one’s neck, and will prevent the the thyroid from producing enough hormones. Symptoms of this disease include fatigue and weight gain, and it is often chronic and can last for years. Madden stated that the disease depleted her of the energy to do simple everyday tasks. In addition, she also said that she had the flu three weeks before trials, which gave her even more fatigue to add on to the effects of Hashimoto’s disease.
Coming into the event as the second seed, Madden finished ninth in the prelims of the 200 free, just missing out on the A-final. She swam a time of 1:58.72, a bit slower than her season best time of 1:57.12 from the San Antonio Pro Swim series earlier this month. Last year at the Olympics, Madden provided a crucial 1:55.25 split on Team USA’s 4×200 freestyle relay to help them win the silver medal. Aside from the 200, Madden also swam a best time in the prelims of the 100 free, finishing 11th with a time of 55.21 before withdrawing from the ‘B’ final.
With Madden out of the race, veteran and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Leah Smith will be the favorite to take the second spot on the team behind Katie Ledecky in the 400 free.
As a med student who has seen a few patients with Hashimoto’s, it’s no over-recognitionto call Paige Madden a warrior. It’s a hell of a syndrome and a lot of people are left severely debilitated and unable to do much (let alone swim at an elite level). You are a champion Paige!!!
Hashimoto is Also the reason why I dropped out of my swim team more than a decade ago. I can’t Even begin to describe the amount of pain I was in. Trying to live a normal life with Hashimoto is already a feat un itself, now being a NCAA champion, elite athlete, and making the olympics while battling the disease is just another level of bravery.
Hope Paige can get better soon. Wish her the Best of luck!
I like this swimmer who was expected to cement American 4×200 relay. So sad and so misfortunate. The health is more important than all these medals and ambitions. I wish her speedy recovery.
And I like how she starts her message:” Wanna give a shout out to all my supporters”
That’s what I’d expect from Manuel to do.
Was with you until line 4.
First, wishing Paige a speedy and total recovery and all the healing she needs physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Secondly, the last part of this post is totally unnecessary because it has nothing to do with Manuel. If you follow Simone on Instagram, she did give a shout out to her supporters shortly after qualifying for the Olympic team. There is no reason to take the attention off of Paige and put it on Simone other than to feel the need to talk negatively about her. It is time for us “adults” to learn to have well wishes for someone without tearing someone else down.
Again, wishing ALL THE BEST for Paige in and out of the pool. She’s… Read more »
Get well soon
Blessings and healing energy to Paige.
Down-voter should be suspended from SS for a month and made to sit in a corner and think about his actions.
Wtf I may have had Hashimoto’s disease my whole life…
extremenly insensitive and disrespectful, just say you were lazy
So you should know that when your levels are off, it throws everything off. Be respectful of your fellow swimmers and Hashimoto suffers. It’s bad enough that people don’t understand the disease and what it can do your your body and mind. We are grateful for those day and months when it’s well managed.Don’t be a hater.
I suffer from this disease myself and know how it makes you feel drained in the water. Best wishes to Paige as she fights her battle.