Meet Katie Meili from Colleyville, Texas, a first time U.S. Olympian in 2016. In her video, Meili recounts her first-ever swim meet, where she swam halfway, dog paddled to the finish, cried, and got out of the water. She also describes her pre-race routine that she says is precisely the same before every swim off the blocks – including in practice.
From her SwimSwam Bio:
NCAA Championships
Meili swam for Columbia University until she graduated in 2013. In 2012 at the NCAA Championships, Meili finished fifth in the 100Y breaststroke. During her senior year, 2013, Meili finished third in the 100Y Breaststroke and 7th in the 200Y Individual Medley.
In 2014 at the US Short Course Nationals, won gold in the 200Y IM and 100Y Free, silver in the 100Y Breaststroke, and bronze in the 200Y Breaststroke. At the Long Course US Nationals, Meili finished 3rd in the 50 Breaststroke, 5th in the 100 Breaststroke, 9th in the 50 Free and 14th in the 100 Free.
At the 2015 US Long Course Nationals, Meili won the 100Breaststroke and 13th in the 50 Free.
International Competition
Meili represented the US for the first time at the 2015 Pan American Games, winning gold in the 100M Breaststroke, as part of the 4 x 100 Medley Relay and silver on the 4 x 100 Free Relay.
2016 US Olympic Trials
Meili finished second in the 100M Breaststroke behind Lilly King with a time of 1:06.07.
A genuine role model. Class act Katie!
Really smart and lovely person. Kudos
Great message about being “her best self”,