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Olivia Smoliga Talks Back-Half Focused 58.3 100m Back

2021 ATLANTA CLASSIC

Reported by Nick Pecoraro.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS

  • Meet Record: 1:00.13, Olivia Smoliga (ABSC), 2016
  • Wave II Cut: 1:01.49
  • Wave I Cut: 1:02.69

Top 3:

  1. Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldog), 58.31 *Meet Record
  2. Rhyan White (Alabama), 58.43
  3. Ellie Waldrep (BAY), 1:01.04

At the 50-meter mark, Rhyan White turned at 28.21, two-tenths ahead of Olivia Smoliga‘s 28.47 split. The two traded the narrow lead on the last 50, touching in with a photo-finish. Peering at the scoreboard, Smoliga touched out White by 0.12s, 58.31 to 58.43.

Finishing in third place was 18-year-old Ellie Waldrep at 1:01.04, holding off Kentucky’s Caitlin Brooks (1:01.13) and Aggie Lisa Bratton (1:01.14).

Smoliga and White now boost to the top two times in the US this season and No. 3 and No. 4 in the season world rankings.

2020-2021 LCM WOMEN 100 BACK

KAYLEEAUS
MCKEOWN

05/14
57.63
2 KATHLEEN
DAWSON
GBR 58.24 04/15
3 OLIVIA
SMOLIGA
USA 58.31 05/15
4 RHYAN
WHITE
USA 58.43 05/15
5 KYLIE
MASSE
CAN 58.48 05/07

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CheddaShredda
3 years ago

has she always talked exactly like billie eilish?

Swimmerj
3 years ago

She’s so cool. We don’t deserve her

Yozhik
Reply to  Swimmerj
3 years ago

I would understand your post if it was a reply to Beast Titan 😀 . Otherwise I have no idea what you meant.

Swimfan
3 years ago

After nine years she finally surpassed missy Franklin time from London (smoliga was 3rd at trials that year In 1:00) I thought that Missy Franklin American record would stand at least 10 years before anybody would get close to it, But now we have three active swimmers under 58.33 and one really close. We may have 5 under 58.33 at trials

Yozhik
3 years ago

Dear Mr. Coleman Hodges since you described in such details Olivia’s 100BK you may provide more information about her 200FR race. Surprisingly no details were reported by Swimswam.com
With all this excitement of her success in 100BK the 200FR still remains her most real chance to be an Olimpian in 2021. Her splits in this race are not supposed to be a secret, but nobody of this Swimswam talking community has a clue.
Thank you in advance.

Swimfan
3 years ago

Is she going to attempt 100 back and 200 free double? Because right now I believe those who are her two best events Pending tonight’s 100 free, she is an awesome yards and short course sprinter And with her very good 200 free hopefully she can add her name to the list of contenders for the relay pool in the 100 free. Anyone know what her best time is in the 100 free

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

54.15. I wouldn’t be surprised if that time gets clobbered tonight and walking out of this weekend she’s one of the favorites for the second spot in the individual 100.

Swimfan
Reply to  PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
3 years ago

The big questing is can either curzan or smoliga answer to mckeons 52.29 tonight? If one of them breaks 53 tonight I will have seen it all

Drama King
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

If there is anyone who can challenge that double, its Olivia. She has done limitless competitive swimming event after event in ISL.
She has that big golden heart for sure.

icecoldtakes
Reply to  Drama King
3 years ago

I mean….yeah her and like a few hundred other swimmers lol.

oxyswim
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

I think it would be foolish to do that double with how loaded the 100 Back is. Being even a tenth or two off because of fatigue will cost you a spot. When Missy did it in 2012, she was a decade younger than Olivia is now, and she had a lot more room for error in both events. If she wants to be considered for that relay, throw something down in prelims, then scratch semis.

Beast Titan
3 years ago

Marry me

Tom
3 years ago

She comes across as super nice, positive human being…Must be her polish upbringing 🙂

Yozhik
Reply to  Tom
3 years ago

Her last name sounds more like Ukrainian 😀

ZanBai
3 years ago

Smoliga on fire! 100 free tonight should be good also.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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