Since coming out of retirement last summer, Dana Vollmer has made a splash in more than just the 100 fly. This morning in Charlotte at the Arena Pro Swim, she added a textile best in the 100 free to her list of recent accomplishments. Vollmer posted a 53.59 to grab the top seed heading into finals.
That’s a new textile best for Vollmer, well under her 53.94 from 2010 U.S. Nationals. It’s also the fastest she’s been since the 2009 World Championships, where she swam her lifetime best 53.30. Vollmer is now the fastest American of 2015-16, surpassing Missy Franklin‘s 53.68 from 2015 Worlds and Katie Ledecky‘s 53.75 from Arena Pro Swim at Austin. In terms of this year’s world rankings, she’s cracked the top 10 to sit 9th.
With her 53.5 from prelims, Vollmer enters the conversation for a possible Olympic bid in the 100 free individually, and has a solid shot at landing a spot on the 400 free relay if she can repeat that at trials. There are currently 7 American women who have broken 54 in 2015-16, so we may see the top 8 swimmers at Olympic Trials all swim under 54 seconds.
Top 10 U.S. Performers of 2015-16 (Including Worlds and Nationals):
- Dana Vollmer, 53.59
- Missy Franklin, 53.68
- Katie Ledecky, 53.75
- Abbey Weitzeil, 53.77
- Simone Manuel, 53.80
- Natalie Coughlin, 53.85
- Margo Geer, 53.95
- Lia Neal, 54.01
- Amanda Weir, 54.24
- Allison Schmitt, 54.34
Top 10 U.S. Performers of 2015-16 (After Worlds and Nationals):
- Dana Vollmer, 53.59
- Katie Ledecky, 53.75
- Abbey Weitzeil, 53.77
- Simone Manuel, 53.80
- Lia Neal, 54.01
- Kelsi Worrell, 54.37
- Missy Franklin, 54.39
- Natalie Coughlin, 54.50
- Allison Schmitt, 54.56
- Amanda Weir, 54.59
Holy schnikees! Unexpectedly fast.
In what sense?
In terms of suspense, yes I agree. It’s a nightmare to make predictions. We don’t even know who will swim that event until the final at trials and is seriously interested in swimming individually the race in Rio.
But for the rest, it’s one of the weakest events on the women’s side with no medal contender. The top girls in the world swim well under 53.
I think the women’s 50 free and the women’s 100 free are the only 2 events in the pool with no US medal chances at all right now. Things could change of course in a few weeks. That’s all I want!
Best US medal contenders in my… Read more »
I don’t want to put words in Slammer’s mouth, but I think s/he was just expressing enthusiasm for this race at trials, not making a quantitative case for it’s significance vis a vis other events.
I admire what she’s doing since her comeback. She will soon swim at her 5th olympic trials! She really teaches younger swimmers some lessons and makes them look like little kids.
An athlete needs breaks if he wants to have a long career. I think Missy Franklin should plan a 1 or 2-year break after Rio to refresh mentally and physically far from the pools, and come back stronger than ever to prepare 2020.
@Bobo: I don’t know if I’d go so far as to recommend the “mommy route” for her (or anyone), bit it sure seems to have worked wonders for DV (who continues to amaze).
Possibly not a bad idea after Rio, or at some point, for Missy, though I don’t know enough to be sure. It worked for Torres, Coughlin, Phelps, and others at various points. Currently I’m thinking the break may be needed more physically than mentally, I’m not sure her injured back has ever been 100% since 2014. Again, just speculation here. There are many paths to success. Between Franklin and her coach they’ll figure it out so she can reach her full potential. But to be clear, I’m not writing her off for this summer at all– I think she has some surprises in store for us.
I am rooting for Dana and Kelsi. But I wish she’d leave the kid out of it. It’s been done with Dara. Female CEOs don’t go to board meetings toting their kids. We just want to see fast swimming. Do the family shoot with People later!
Actually, the first time I recall “the kid” being involved was Gary Hall, Sr. at the 76 Olympics carrying young Jr. (just short of two years old) around the pool deck. So not only was Dara not the first one, but I believe the first Olympic swimmer who didn’t “leave the kid out of it” was a man.
It’s at home & ok. It’s when athletes start whining about the dangers of Zika in Rio for their offspring that is annoying .
I personally prefer to see what sort of dogs swimmers have. Other pp.’s kids are boring but dogs are all highly watchable.
Great observation, Swimdoc. Bravo!
I think interviews with swimmers on a pool deck is a little more relaxed than a CEO going to a board meeting
Gross comment.
Good stuff!
Wow. Thats exciting. SMASH, Vollmer!!!