Monday, May 17, 2021
10 Things to be Excited About for 2021 Trials
After the past year, everyone is excited to see that the U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming is happening this June.
When the event was postponed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future (even a year out) was unclear.
But now, things are back on schedule even though they will look (and possibly feel) quite different from past Trials.
Always an intriguing part of every Trials is which young or relatively unknown athletes will enjoy a breakthrough meet and make or come close to making the Olympic team.
There are usually one or two (sometimes more) who shock the swimming community to make their first Olympic team. Who will it be in 2021?
We have a few more weeks to wait and find out, but in the meantime, let’s look at the top 10 things I’m excited about for 2021 Trials.
10. Good to be the King?
For the past five-plus years, Lilly King has owned the breaststroke events inside and outside of the United States – although lately, Annie Lazor and Emily Escobedo have given her some serious competition.
When it comes to the 100 breast, King retains a commanding grip and continues to build momentum towards defending her Trials gold. It will be in the 200 where Lazor, Escobedo, Molly Hannis and several other veteran and up-and-coming swimmers will give her a run for her money.
King’s style always makes for an exciting finish, so it will be intriguing to watch her sprint for the wall in both events and make her second (yes, only her second) Olympic Team next month in Omaha.
9. Making Waves
Because of ongoing concerns and precautions for COVID, this year’s Trials will be unlike any before them, namely because they will be split into two separate but connected meets.
The first Wave starts the first weekend of June with the second Wave – the competition that will ultimately decide the U.S. Olympic Team headed to Tokyo – follows the next week.
With the wildcard-weekend format of Wave I, combined with the unmatched intensity of Olympic qualifications looming in Wave II, June is going to be nearly a month-long display of massive stakes on the line, incredible visual effects and jaw-dropping swims from the nation's fastest athletes.
Whatever happens, it’s will be great to have Trials back in Omaha especially after the past year we’ve all endured.
8. Topping 2016
With a reduced capacity for spectators and two Waves of competition rather than one big one, it’s likely that this year’s Trials will have a different look and feel.
Which makes me wonder – how will the 2021 version of Trials compare to what is considered to be the best and most successful Trials ever from five years ago?
To some, that may not matter. The important thing is that, despite postponement, the meet is happening. With so much in question over the past 14-plus months, holding the meet is a WIN that everyone involved–competitors, fans, coaches, administrators and sponsors–should be excited to witness and celebrate.
Perhaps things will be back to normal in 2024, but for this year’s meet, the real victory and spectacle of Trials may lie in the excitement of having Trials.
7. Lochte and Loaded?
Ryan Lochte has been a staple on the U.S. National Team for more than a decade – and during that time, he’s made the last three Olympic teams.
Now a father of two and husband, the 36-year-old may be up against a young and emerging field – but you never know what he might do at a big meet like Trials.
If he were to qualify for the team, he would surpass Anthony Ervin (who made the team and won gold in 2016 at 35 years old) to become the oldest man to swim at the Olympics since 1904.
How cool would that be?
6. Grevers, Murphy and More Look to Build 100 Back Legacy
In 2012, Murphy was the young upstart who showed amazing potential and promise while Grevers was the veteran who not only made the U.S. Olympic team, but went on to win two gold medals and a silver medal in London.
Fast-forward four years to 2016, and things were much different. Murphy not only won both the 100 and 200 back events in Omaha, but he went on to win three gold medals at the Rio Olympics.
Meanwhile, Grevers, a pre-meet favorite to make his third Olympic team, came up short, finishing third and off the team in his signature 100 back event. There was speculation that he might retire, but, here we are five years later, and Grevers is swimming some of his best times.
The two will go head-to-head again in Omaha against a very strong field (Jacob Pebley, Shaine Casas, Austin Katz, Bryce Mefford, Justin Ress, etc.). If Grevers were to make the team, at 36 years old, he would be the oldest man to swim at the Olympics since 1904 (unless Lochte makes the team; he is roughly 7 months older).
Regardless of which two athletes qualify in the men's 100 back, they will be tasked with carrying on the legacy of U.S. success in the event.
5. Go Adrian!
This will be Nathan Adrian’s fourth Olympic Trials – all in Omaha. He qualified for the 2008 Team as a relatively unknown 19-year-old, and at the time, it was difficult to foresee what a force he would be for USA Swimming over the next 13 years.
Now 32, married and with a new baby in his life, this could be his final Trials depending on how things go.
Lately, he’s rediscovering the form that led him to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, and whether or not he finishes first or second to quality individually in any events in Omaha, he will no doubt continue to be a veteran staple on the United States’ relays in Tokyo.
While that remains to be seen (and decided), Adrian will go down as one of the best in U.S. history – and it all started with his breakthrough in Omaha 13 years ago.
4. Competing through COVID
After last year’s Trials and Olympics were postponed, there was a true sense of absence and disappointment in the sports world – especially in Omaha.
But in retrospect–and most swimmers are agree–it was the right and fair decision.
Now, with Trials happening in a few short weeks, it feels real. Even after Trials were moved back to this summer, there was still some speculation and concern that the pandemic might delay or, worse, derail Trials and the Olympics.
But as things stand, with widespread vaccinations, smaller crowds, mask mandates and strong regulations and restrictions to keep everyone safe in Omaha (and Tokyo), Trials and the Olympics are scheduled to happen.
3. Simone, the Sequel
Ever since her win in the 100 free at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Simone Manuel has owned the event at Worlds, winning the past two titles in 2017 and 2019. It’s easy to forget that Manuel actually finished second in the 100 free behind Abbey Weitzeil at Olympic Trials in 2016, but that won’t matter this year.
Where Katie Ledecky owns the distance freestyle events (400 and up), Manuel has a lock on the sprints, particularly the 50 and 100. The 200 is an event the former Stanford teammates will go head-to-head with one another, and lately, Ledecky has had the upper hand.
Suffice it to say, Manuel will be one of the favorites in Omaha in the sprint freestyles – but there are a host of athletes, like Weitzeil, who are eager to dethrone the reigning World and Olympic champion.
2. Dressel the Vessel
What does Caeleb Dressel have in store for this summer? His performances – and management of swimming multiple events on the same days – will dictate his summer.
Based on his 2019 World Championships – where he won 6 gold medals and 8 medals in total – he definitely set an attainable precedent. The previous Worlds (2017), he was even stronger with 7 gold medals.
With the addition of mixed relays (400 free and medley) at this year’s Games, it will be exciting to see what the Vessel can accomplish.
But first, it will be titillating to watch what he accomplishes in Omaha.
1. Ledecky the Legend
You can’t have a Top 10 list without including the amazing Katie Ledecky – and 9 times out of 10 (and rightfully so), she’s at the top.
Ledecky has a shot at sweeping the freestyle events (not the 50) at Trials if she decides to take a shot in the 100 free.
Of course, that event belongs to Manuel, but she will be the favorite in all of her other events, namely the 200, 400, 800 and, for the first time as an Olympic event, the 1500.
That’s a lot of races over an 8-day meet, but if anyone can do it, it’s the Legend.
With twelve days of swimming in Omaha this June, there is plenty to be excited for.
When the event was postponed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future (even a year out) was unclear.
But now, things are back on schedule even though they will look (and possibly feel) quite different from past Trials.
Always an intriguing part of every Trials is which young or relatively unknown athletes will enjoy a breakthrough meet and make or come close to making the Olympic team.
There are usually one or two (sometimes more) who shock the swimming community to make their first Olympic team. Who will it be in 2021?
We have a few more weeks to wait and find out, but in the meantime, let’s look at the top 10 things I’m excited about for 2021 Trials.
10. Good to be the King?
For the past five-plus years, Lilly King has owned the breaststroke events inside and outside of the United States – although lately, Annie Lazor and Emily Escobedo have given her some serious competition.
When it comes to the 100 breast, King retains a commanding grip and continues to build momentum towards defending her Trials gold. It will be in the 200 where Lazor, Escobedo, Molly Hannis and several other veteran and up-and-coming swimmers will give her a run for her money.
King’s style always makes for an exciting finish, so it will be intriguing to watch her sprint for the wall in both events and make her second (yes, only her second) Olympic Team next month in Omaha.
9. Making Waves
Because of ongoing concerns and precautions for COVID, this year’s Trials will be unlike any before them, namely because they will be split into two separate but connected meets.
The first Wave starts the first weekend of June with the second Wave – the competition that will ultimately decide the U.S. Olympic Team headed to Tokyo – follows the next week.
With the wildcard-weekend format of Wave I, combined with the unmatched intensity of Olympic qualifications looming in Wave II, June is going to be nearly a month-long display of massive stakes on the line, incredible visual effects and jaw-dropping swims from the nation's fastest athletes.
Whatever happens, it’s will be great to have Trials back in Omaha especially after the past year we’ve all endured.
8. Topping 2016
With a reduced capacity for spectators and two Waves of competition rather than one big one, it’s likely that this year’s Trials will have a different look and feel.
Which makes me wonder – how will the 2021 version of Trials compare to what is considered to be the best and most successful Trials ever from five years ago?
To some, that may not matter. The important thing is that, despite postponement, the meet is happening. With so much in question over the past 14-plus months, holding the meet is a WIN that everyone involved–competitors, fans, coaches, administrators and sponsors–should be excited to witness and celebrate.
Perhaps things will be back to normal in 2024, but for this year’s meet, the real victory and spectacle of Trials may lie in the excitement of having Trials.
7. Lochte and Loaded?
Ryan Lochte has been a staple on the U.S. National Team for more than a decade – and during that time, he’s made the last three Olympic teams.
Now a father of two and husband, the 36-year-old may be up against a young and emerging field – but you never know what he might do at a big meet like Trials.
If he were to qualify for the team, he would surpass Anthony Ervin (who made the team and won gold in 2016 at 35 years old) to become the oldest man to swim at the Olympics since 1904.
How cool would that be?
6. Grevers, Murphy and More Look to Build 100 Back Legacy
In 2012, Murphy was the young upstart who showed amazing potential and promise while Grevers was the veteran who not only made the U.S. Olympic team, but went on to win two gold medals and a silver medal in London.
Fast-forward four years to 2016, and things were much different. Murphy not only won both the 100 and 200 back events in Omaha, but he went on to win three gold medals at the Rio Olympics.
Meanwhile, Grevers, a pre-meet favorite to make his third Olympic team, came up short, finishing third and off the team in his signature 100 back event. There was speculation that he might retire, but, here we are five years later, and Grevers is swimming some of his best times.
The two will go head-to-head again in Omaha against a very strong field (Jacob Pebley, Shaine Casas, Austin Katz, Bryce Mefford, Justin Ress, etc.). If Grevers were to make the team, at 36 years old, he would be the oldest man to swim at the Olympics since 1904 (unless Lochte makes the team; he is roughly 7 months older).
Regardless of which two athletes qualify in the men's 100 back, they will be tasked with carrying on the legacy of U.S. success in the event.
5. Go Adrian!
This will be Nathan Adrian’s fourth Olympic Trials – all in Omaha. He qualified for the 2008 Team as a relatively unknown 19-year-old, and at the time, it was difficult to foresee what a force he would be for USA Swimming over the next 13 years.
Now 32, married and with a new baby in his life, this could be his final Trials depending on how things go.
Lately, he’s rediscovering the form that led him to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, and whether or not he finishes first or second to quality individually in any events in Omaha, he will no doubt continue to be a veteran staple on the United States’ relays in Tokyo.
While that remains to be seen (and decided), Adrian will go down as one of the best in U.S. history – and it all started with his breakthrough in Omaha 13 years ago.
4. Competing through COVID
After last year’s Trials and Olympics were postponed, there was a true sense of absence and disappointment in the sports world – especially in Omaha.
But in retrospect–and most swimmers are agree–it was the right and fair decision.
Now, with Trials happening in a few short weeks, it feels real. Even after Trials were moved back to this summer, there was still some speculation and concern that the pandemic might delay or, worse, derail Trials and the Olympics.
But as things stand, with widespread vaccinations, smaller crowds, mask mandates and strong regulations and restrictions to keep everyone safe in Omaha (and Tokyo), Trials and the Olympics are scheduled to happen.
3. Simone, the Sequel
Ever since her win in the 100 free at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Simone Manuel has owned the event at Worlds, winning the past two titles in 2017 and 2019. It’s easy to forget that Manuel actually finished second in the 100 free behind Abbey Weitzeil at Olympic Trials in 2016, but that won’t matter this year.
Where Katie Ledecky owns the distance freestyle events (400 and up), Manuel has a lock on the sprints, particularly the 50 and 100. The 200 is an event the former Stanford teammates will go head-to-head with one another, and lately, Ledecky has had the upper hand.
Suffice it to say, Manuel will be one of the favorites in Omaha in the sprint freestyles – but there are a host of athletes, like Weitzeil, who are eager to dethrone the reigning World and Olympic champion.
2. Dressel the Vessel
What does Caeleb Dressel have in store for this summer? His performances – and management of swimming multiple events on the same days – will dictate his summer.
Based on his 2019 World Championships – where he won 6 gold medals and 8 medals in total – he definitely set an attainable precedent. The previous Worlds (2017), he was even stronger with 7 gold medals.
With the addition of mixed relays (400 free and medley) at this year’s Games, it will be exciting to see what the Vessel can accomplish.
But first, it will be titillating to watch what he accomplishes in Omaha.
1. Ledecky the Legend
You can’t have a Top 10 list without including the amazing Katie Ledecky – and 9 times out of 10 (and rightfully so), she’s at the top.
Ledecky has a shot at sweeping the freestyle events (not the 50) at Trials if she decides to take a shot in the 100 free.
Of course, that event belongs to Manuel, but she will be the favorite in all of her other events, namely the 200, 400, 800 and, for the first time as an Olympic event, the 1500.
That’s a lot of races over an 8-day meet, but if anyone can do it, it’s the Legend.
With twelve days of swimming in Omaha this June, there is plenty to be excited for.