2018-2019 U.S. National Team member and two-time individual ACC Champion Elise Haan announced her retirement from swimming yesterday on Instagram.
Haan has played an important part on the NC State Women’s swim team over the past three years, and lowered the school record in the 100 backstroke to a 50.42 at the 2018 NCAA Championships for a 4th-place finish.
Haan’s two individual ACC titles also came in the 100 back; in 2018, Haan won in 50.76, a new school record, which she lowered again at the 2018 NCAA Championships to a 50.42. Haan repeated as ACC Champion in the 100 backstroke in 2019, winning in a 51.43.
Haan was also a vital relay member during her time at NC State, and contributed vital backstroke legs to four ACC title-winning NC State relays from 2017 to 2019.
Before Haan was a member of the NC State Wolfpack she was the CCSA Swimmer of the year in 2016 for her performances at the CCSA Championships as a member of Florida Gulf Coast University’s swim team, where she won individual titles in the 100 back, 200 back, and 100 free. She was also the only FGCU swimmer to score at the NCAA Championships in 2016.
Haan placed 3rd in the 50 back and 6th in the 100 back at the 2018 U.S. National Championships, punching her ticket to the 2019 World University Games in Italy, which took place in July. In Napoli, Haan placed 2nd in the 100 back to future Wolfpack swimmer Katharine Berkoff. Haan also claimed silver in the 50 backstroke. Haan also contributed a 59.88 lead-off leg in the prelims of the women’s 4 x 100 medley relay at WUGs, which, utilizing a different lineup in finals, won gold.
Haan has been one of a number of American female backstrokers that have rattled world rankings over the past couple years. While the American men generally get the recognition for longevity in terms of defending Olympic gold medalists, the American women’s scene is just as–if not more–cut-throat than the men’s, as evidenced by recent World Records and the fact that 8 American women rank top-20 in the world this year in the 100 and 200 bacskstrokes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B06NHChFA2E/
What does this mean for her on the national team?? Is she on it or does the next person make it??
I know Elise well and she was simply torn between focusing on her future career and another year of swimming. Constantly weighing this over the last few months. I think when a swimmer finishes their NCAA eligibility and it is over a year until trials it is hard to hold on. Unfortunately there’s still very little money/sponsorship for these athletes to just focus on swimming, especially those with an outside shot at making team. Anyway, Elise went out on a high note, winning at WUGs with a best time! She had a great career and made all of us NC STATERS very proud. Elise you are a class act and we wish you all the best!
That’s gotta be a hard decision. More props to her and her career
Best of luck in the next chapter of your life!
If it’s ‘baseless as hell’ why would you accuse someone of using PED? There are hundreds off athletes ending their careers for any reason on daily basis.
You think Dressel, Pieroni, Apple, Dean, King, Manuel, etc… are on some juice? Maybe, just maybe I could see an argument for Dressel and Manuel because their bodies legit look different. The others have pretty “normal” looking bodies and time progressions. This is quite the statement, even for you, Mr. Nolan
I don’t think every elite athlete is doping. In some sports that aren’t very competitive it certainly is possible to be elite without doping. I think in swimming, cycling and athletics it is impossible to be elite without doping. Even if you think that all elite athletes are doping, then why do you feel the need to mention it here? (I don’t really see the connection)
Most athletes probably are taking supplements or other things and sometimes those are contaminated. Some are taking things that are illegal on purpose.
I think Jack’s code words were “personal reasons.”
I know her chances of making it to the Olympics were very, very small, but if I had her talent I would have wanted to have the experience of swimming in the 100 Back final at the OT, just so I could say I went as far as I could in my sport and came soooo close! Congratulations on a great career, Elise, and good luck with all you do in the future!
Wondering why she wouldn’t “be aware” of this coming
Waiting for the ‘B’ sample?
Perhaps because she realized she’d lost the love needed to get to the next level. A lot of baselessass comments by never-got-theres. In the world of elite swimming there’s so much talent and hungry next-gens that you can’t honestly stay in and keep your self-respect to do it halfway. I imagine Elise knows her mental state regarding swimming, gave it one big shot this summer, and realized her heart wasn’t there and WUGs was a great capper to a super career. Congrats Elise. I hope you stick around Raleigh and share your wisdom to the next gen of NCST swimmers.
Agreed. Wish her all the best. A great career
Congrats Elise on a wonderful career!! Will miss seeing you in action.