SwimSwam took a visit to Charlottesville, Virginia, to see how the Cavaliers were handling winter training. On this Sunday morning, head coach Todd DeSorbo was running a 100-Speed workout, where Olympic sisters Alex and Gretchen Walsh were both present.
***EDITOR’S NOTE: Coach Todd’s watch is typically very quick. This practice is no exception. His philosophy is to start his watch when the swimmers’ feet pass the flags (instead of when they leave the wall) because he feels this simulates what they would go from a start off the blocks. It is not how most coaches time practice swims, but coach DeSorbo is consistent with this method and his results speak for themself.***
The main set was as follows:
12X25 MAX EFFORT W/SOX @ 1 [ALT 4XU/W KICK, 4X YOUR KICKOUT+SWIM, 4 U/W KICK]
2X25 #1 EZ, #2 MAX @ 1
12X25 MAX EFFORT W/SOX @ 1 [2X U/W, 2XKICKOUT + SWIM, 2XPUSH & GO]
2X50 #1 EZ, #2 MAX @ 1:30
12X25 MAX EFFORT W/SOX @ 1 [ODD’S KO+SWIM, EVEN’S PUSH & GO]
2X75 #1 EZ, #2 MAX @ 2
We also got to see highlights from associate head coach Jake Shrum’s workout, which focused on power and feature All-American 5th year Anna Keating and Olympian Emma Weber. See their main set below:
10 Racks on 1 – Start at 1/3 – past yellow go up
8 UW DK or 2 PPD’s
12×50’s on 1
2 choice, 1 STRONG pull
2 choice, 1 FAST/ez
12 Racks on 1:20 – Start max -5
1-6 – 3 Cycles, past yellow go up
7-12 – 4 Cycles, past yellow go up
100ez
12×25’s
6 w/ FINS and PADS on 1 (Brst DK)
Rest 30
6 ALL OUT on 1:10 w/ SOX
Swimming Octathlon Practice Idea. Each participant swims a 100 and 200 of each stroke, with a 10 minute break between events. The participants are ranked with the following formula: 1st place-1pt, 2nd place-2pts, 3rd place-4pts, 4th place-8pts, 5th place-16pts…The participant with the lowest score wins. Which UVA women’s swimmer would win this event? KD is also competing.
gotta be either Alex Walsh or Katie Grimes right?
I didn’t see Alex Walsh except for the pancakes interview in the video. But hopefully we’ll see her go fast in this weekend’s dual!
She was the only one doing the breaststroke…
Every time I see a video with Todd Desorbo, this impersonation comes to mind
https://youtube.com/shorts/AdgKs-8kQEQ?si=7DfF4tSlZ90odq3d
If I watched my sister murder sprint records I too may drop the 4 IM for short stuff
Why did Anna have a sour expression on her face when Alex was speaking?
They are best friends and roommates lol
lol Todd Desorbo is just straight up lying about the times that Gretchen and the rest were going on those 75s. You can time it yourself on the video, he claims Gretchen goes a 34.9/ when it was actually a 36.7.
Reading is hard… article mentions that Todd times based on when the athlete’s feet pass the flags. Fast watch, fast team.
Did you read the article?
***EDITOR’S NOTE: Coach Todd’s watch is typically very quick. This practice is no exception. His philosophy is to start his watch when the swimmers’ feet pass the flags (instead of when they leave the wall) because he feels this simulates what they would go from a start off the blocks. It is not how most coaches time practice swims, but coach DeSorbo is consistent with this method and his results speak for themself.***
Lmao That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
yes, but as long as it’s consistent it really doesn’t matter
This explanation irrationally irks me. I just could have been told his watch is fast the explanation is just so anal and pointless
(No hate for DeSorbo)
Obsessing a little? We’ll have real times on Saturday.
Is it too early to say 46 in March?
Kudos to the Wash parents for maxing out the Nature/Nurture for these two SuperStars (a little bit of a non sequitur)