USA National Teamer, Regan Smith, does not set goal times. That was a surprise to hear. Most elite swimmers are, of course, driven by goal times–but Regan is only 16 years old. It sounds like she’s going with the flow, trusting her training, and not putting too much pressure on herself, a good plan at this point in her career. So, I’m not making any specific predictions about US Nationals or Pan Pacs.
I will say her 2017 World Championships performance in the 200m backstroke reminds me a little of Michael Phelps’ 2000 Olympics 200m butterfly. She raced the best in the world at a very tender age, got the experience, and her future appears unlimited. I’d like to see Regan make the Pan Pac Squad and improve on her 8th place finish from ’17 Worlds. I’d like see her in a few finals in Tokyo, gaining as much international experience as possible, and I’m wondering if her 100m butterfly will breakthrough. She’s on the cusp with a 58.64, her personal best, set in-season at the recent TYR Pro Swim Santa Clara. What do you think?
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
She has a bright future no matter what happens this summer.
It kind of sounds like she doesn’t set goal times because she doesn’t want to put a limit on what she can do. Absolutely no doubt in my mind that she is a future world record holder, and sooner, rather than later.
BTW, I was in the stands when she set those NAG records at age ten. Only time I ever thought about asking a 10-year old for her autograph.
I was also at that same meet when she was 10 and set those NAGs. Really the first time I had seen her swim – 8 swims that meet and, as I recall, 8 LSC records and 4 NAG records. That was certainly the day she became a household name among MN swimming families.
Wouldn’t it be cool if she swam as Gopher for a year or two before going pro?
She won’t. Gophers are cool but they won’t get her.
She will head to Tennessee and lead em to that NCAA title they deserves.
I think sometimes swimmers can become too focused on goal times at the expense of simply racing. After all, isn’t winning the race the most important goal, particularly at her elite level?
I always thought PBs were top of the list as an age grouper (not at WC or the OG). I think Regan’s been improving so much, goal times don’t matter. Keeping the stress of competition as low as long as possible makes sense–for now.
I’m happy she’s not obsessed with times. Not only she’s very talented and works hard but looks like she’s also a very mature poised smart young lady.
I’ve watched her develop since she’s 10 and her first NAG records. She’s far from reaching her top. Physically she has a huge margin of progression yet. Just the beginning of a great career. And not just on backstroke. Free already pretty good. Fly already very good. Yes her breaststroke is bad right now but she’s young and has much time ahead of her to improve it if she wants to be a great 200 IMer. No limits for Regan Smith.
BOBO!!! Up vote!
………………………………………………………I feel so sad for all of the BoBo down votes.
Most of those downvotes are likely from a single source. The only thing sad about it is the individual responsible for that. If you disregard that he probably gets more upvotes than other regular commenter here…that’s the half full perspective.
There are definitely some reasons for such strong dislike by one person or many people. I can think of some of them like bringing politics to the swimming site.
But why is it sad?
From the swimswam’s prospective the “bobo” competition is good for business because it increases the number of hits. Otherwise they can remove this voting feature.
Mr. Gigli doesn’t mind at all to have that much attention.
And what is it to you? Why do you care if somebody votes differently then you would do. It isn’t an election. If you want express your opinion – do it regardless somebody else’s activity.
What is it to me? I don’t care how other people “vote” or express their views with the arrows feature. But I do I find it rather sad and pathetic that someone would feel the need to employ a script to enable multiple downvoting of another contributor. Moreover by doing it on so many of his posts, even the most innocuously simple comments, they constitute petty indiscriminate attacks against the poster rather than an expression of disagreement toward a specific opinion. Do you really believe there are 100+ different people that disagree with those positive and broad comments he made about Regan Smith? Notice how similar sentiments expressed by others aren’t subjected to this?
This is an anonymous forum and the rules of normal human interaction are not applicable here most of the times. You want to be here – except this fact.
Many of those who are posting here will never express their opinion publicly if it is a discussion with people where everybody knows each other.
If I don’t know the person who dislikes me why should i care. Maybe he/she doesn’t deserve any attention. It could be a child or very old person who doesn’t even know/remember already what he/she is doing or it could be a mentally sick person who likes clicking on arrows or it could be a person who just likes to annoy people. It could… Read more »
Yozhik, this will be my last reply to you on the subject. Mainly because I don’t like to see a topic about a swimmer sidetracked. I think the overwhelming number of people use the arrows as intended. I do not advocate any particular step to address the circumventing of the arrow voting feature. I just think the behavior of someone that maliciously targets a specific individual repeatedly under false pretenses should be acknowledged. Although their identity may not be known their conduct is transparent. They are not fooling people.
I do too. Bobo Gigi keeps track of swimming a lot. Mel Stewart is right on this one. Glad he think swimming beyond his Olympic experiences.
Is this a record for the most dislikes on one of Bobo’s comments?