2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN
- January 14-17, 2026
- Austin, Texas
- Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Psych Sheet (updated)
- How to Watch
- Live Results
Video captured by Anya Pelshaw.
After winning the 50 Free (24.79) and taking 4th in the 200 Free (1:57.58), Simone Manuel reflected on being in the year 2026. She feels it’s ‘insane’ that 2016, the year she made her Olympic debut and made history by becoming the first black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming.
But the superstar also expressed immense gratitude for being able to be on this stage 10 years later, continuing to make swimming her career and compete at the highest level, and yes, even pile up 7k practices with Bob Bowman.
I was always of the opinion that distance and mid distance training helps with sprint events too, because there is an under rated endurance element to sprint events, even an event as short as a 50.
I’m not sure it’s a good thing that she’s swimming that much, considering that sprinters in general have been doing A LOT less in recent years and focused more on developing other skills. And of course there was the whole overtraining debacle for her in the past.
I’m not her coach. Bob knows what he’s doing, of course. But I still worry.
That does seem like a lot for a sprinter, but as you say, we have to assume Bob knows what he is doing. He has Chris Giuliano there, too. He must be doing similar training as Manuel.
Yes. But Chris is a lot younger than Simone, too.
Again, I’m sure Bob has everything under control. But given her history, I guess it’s normal to be a bit worried.
what kind of work do you think she was doing when she set the american record?
You’re right of course. However, her age is also a factor. She certainly wasn’t 29 at the time.
What work are the Australian women are doing?
Father Time will be tough to beat in 2028 let alone all the kids coming into their first quad primes. Wishing her all the best.
Question for the specialists – I’m NOT a technician. Wouldn’t she benefit from the type of practice McEvoy does if she focuses on 50?
I don’t think she’s focusing on the 50? 50’s probably 3rd on her list at this point
Her priority:
1️⃣100 free
2️⃣50 free
3️⃣200 free for 4×2 relay
Thanks for the info Bob!
I think what McEvoy is doing is so new that it’s not entirely clear yet if it will work for others or if it’s an n of 1. It’s also not entirely clear that what he’s doing can be packaged and shipped around. She would need a coach to execute that training plan specially for her, which is not as much how the American training centers are set up.
Would be fun to watch her try it though. I think before what McEvoy is doing can become canon, someone’s gotta go train there with him/his coach and really learn it from the inside.
In multiple podcasts he has said there are dozens of athletes already doing this and improving and doing life time bests. Half of the world championships final last year does a version of what he has expressed publicly.
I can’t help but wonder if the swimming pendulum seems to be swinging back towards Huge Yardage, even for sprinters.
I’m shocked when hear that anyone 50-200 focussed is doing 7k sessions.
I think overall sprinters are doing much less than 20 years ago.
However Bowman is more old school so that training requires a little more volume.
Perhaps this is just a specific training cycle. She never said she’s doing 7k every day, or even all the time.
Yes
She wouldn’t buy into that.
Have been a fan since her age group days she was a class act from back then
Always! A classy, consistent athlete, from everything I’ve seen and read. To my mind, she has done really well to come back from her difficult time, which (a) required huge mental and physical strength, and (b) highlights her talent and her deep commitment to the sport. Also, just a great swimming to watch.
So great to have Simone back and completely dialed in….