USA Swimming decided to bring the Grand Prix Series back to Arizona for the first time since 1997 with a new home at the Mesa Aquatic Club, and the biggest stars in swimming are coming out en force for the event.
The meet will be held from April 11th-13th at the Skyline Aquatic Center. Tickets can be purchased online at MesaGrandPrix.com.
Among the biggest attraction for Mesa locals is the inclusion of Breeja Larson, coming off of a second-straight NCAA title in the 100 breaststroke and an Olympic appearance last summer, competing in front of a home crowd. Arizonans have plenty of “locals” to root for with the Tucson Ford elite post-graduate group, but less frequently do they get to see a true home-grown talent like Larson. Larson, in fact, is a Mesa local, born-and-bred, who went to Mountain View High School.
Having hardly raced in the state since leaving to attend Texas A&M, there will surely be a large contingent of fans on hand to watch her swim. Caitlin Leverenz, who also hails from the Copper State, will also be on hand.
According to AZCentral.com, Olympic 100 backstroke champion Matt Grevers will be at the meet. He and his fellow former professional swimmer Annie Chandler are getting married in San Antonio this coming Saturday, but the life of a professional athlete must press on, apparently.
A full list of Olympians expected to enter the meet:
Cammille Adams
Elizabeth Beisel
Rachel Bootsma,
Natalie Coughlin
Claire Donahue
Missy Franklin
Jessica Hardy
Breeja Larson
Katie Ledecky
Caitlin Leverenz
Chloe Sutton
Dana Vollmer
Kate Ziegler
Nathan Adrian
Ricky Berens
Clark Burckle
Tyler Clary
Conor Dwyer
Anthony Ervin
Ryan Lochte
Matt McLean
Scott Weltz
Can’t wait to see Missy, Ledecky and Clary swim again!
Will I (outside USA) be able to watch live online?
Or any live results site?
Wow! Seven of the twenty two swim or will swim for Cal!
I know you said before that Soni was still in testing pool and Phelps was not.
Can you list what Olympians other than Phelps are not in the testing pool – which is our best indication of retired?
osd – there’s no actual public list of who is in the pool and not, just a list of who was tested and not in a certain quarter. The odds of an Olympian of Phelps’ caliber, though, going more than a quarter without being tested are somewhere between “slim” and “none”.
Looking forward to seeing where Bootsma, Coughlin, Ledecky, Hardy, Larson, Leverenz, Vollmer are at with long course at this point in the season. They haven’t swum much long course yet this season and I think they have much potential for the U.S. at World Champs. Burckle, Ervin, McLean, Weltz on men’s side. (And I’m guessing that since Burckle is going, some of the Arizona men will be there, so definitely looking to see how Cordes is in long course). Is psych sheet out yet?
A few people on the aforementioned list need to hang it up and get on with their lives. All are/were great swimmers, but at some point after multiple Olympics/medals, some if these folks need to move on and get jobs. Sounds harsh, but it seems like so many hang on for too long.
$$$$ this is their livelihood. Can’t blame them for still trying to get paid.
Can’t wait to see Katie ledecky back in action in long course!
Great lineup! Should be fast!
When is rebecca soni going to get back into competition? Or is she retired?
Danm – there was a post about this a few days ago. She was fighting a bad back injury leading up to London. Hasn’t officially retired, but is taking the year off, applying to grad school, etc.
Thanks Braden! That’s a shame shes taking the year off.
There was an article on here late last week that stated that Soni was taking a year off due to an injury that she had right before the 2012 Games and because she was doing so traveling for on of the charities that she works with.