Olympic champion, world champion and world record holder, Lilly King, is finally a pro, ending her collegiate career in a big way by leading the Indiana women to their first B1G Team Title since 2011. King dipped into iconic territory, going 55 in the 100 yard breaststroke at BIGs, then again NCAA Championships. Not only did King capture 100 breaststroke for four years, she made a clean sweep of the breaststrokes, taking all four 200s as well during her NCAA career.
In King’s last GMM video (see video below), she was straightforward about 2019 World Championships in South Korea. She wants to sweep the breaststroke events, and she wants to see 1:03 on the board in the 100m breast. Her personal best is 1:04.13 from the 2017 World Championships in Budapest. I think she’ll dip under 1:04. I see her going 1:03.7. What do you think?
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
I think she will be under 1:04. As a reference, John Hencken in the 1976 Olympics won gold 1:03.1. His 100 yard breast in 1975/76 was 55.5/56.0. John Moffet swam a low 1:02 at the 1984 Olympics and a mid 54 100 yard breast the same year. Lundquist was faster in the 100 yard around a mid 52 in 1983.
Lundquist had those amazing turns
There’s always so much hate on Lilly, she’s never vulgar or rude about opponents, she just knows she’s faster and wants to make sure they remember that. If they can’t block her out there deserve to lose, which they do. You can talk all the trash in the world if you can back it up. Welcome to sports
Swimulator time converter says 1:01.50 (from her 55.73). Expect some really good swims this summer.
She’s going to swim fast if she hits are taper. She and Efimova are facing off soon in the FINA CHAMP SERIES, end of May in INDY. That should be interesting….
I feel like she’s a bit cocky for placing her goals out there. I feel it’s more professional to keep those under wrap until you complete it and then tell the story of how long you’ve had the goal etc. Example: Katie Ledecky:800 Fr after rio said her goals.
Example: Caeleb Dressel, after NCAAs said 17.6 was goal
Swim culture is a/goal times. It’s more fun when elites share them. It may put needless pressure on races, but the tension is the drama… I think King knows her potential…
I think different ways of addressing goals work for different athletes. Some may need to make their goals public to hold themselves accountable. Some may not want to focus so much on time goals or keep them close to the chest. I don’t suspect this with Ledecky or Dressel, but if an athlete shares their goal after they hit it almost exactly, you have to wonder if that was actually their goal or if they changed it after the fact. Athletes sharing their goals ahead of time doesn’t bother me if that’s what works for them.
Yep, just those Big Ten, NCAA, Olympic titles. That’s as far as it goes.
Also current World Record Holder
u must be over jealous …..dont worry , it will pass with time …..
She is one of my favorite on Team Usa !! Her grit , talent , work ethic & fearlessness in & out of the pool are unique . Can’t wait to see her battles again with Efimova this summer and break new barriers in the 100 & Be much stronger in the 200 breast & help Team Usa to win the medley relay again ( i think she has been training a bit more for the 200 to be improved ). Go Lilly , the sky is the limit !!! I have also loved her appearances in Cody’s Vlogs ( so much fun , team spirit , friendship and hard work at the same time between them ). Go Lilly… Read more »
1:02
That would be awesome. 1:02 won gold for the men in 1984- The Lunk!
1:01.65
More like 1:03.5 at best. 1:01 is completely unrealistic.
59.99999…. ha!
I feel like she should of done this sooner to max her earnings but good for her. You never know, she may never be able to replicate the results she has had in the past. However, if her goal was to cement her collegiate legacy she has certainly done that. That doesn’t earn you money though.
This year and in the lead up to 2020 is the best timing to do so, the only better time would have been just after Rio because of her statements and performance there but she still had a few years of college swimming left. This way she gets all the benefits of the “olympic hype” sponsorships and whatever comes after her performances in Tokyo
agreed , she is smart and felt the right move was NOW ! she is the best in yards and in the Big pool over 100 meters . Can’t wait to see her performances this summer ….
Not everything is about money.
If we are talking about endorsement money, cementing her collegiate legacy might help her earn endorsement money.