Everyone loves Reece Whitley. Standing 6 feet, 8 inches tall, the media can’t miss the towering Penn Charter phenom, and they love his easy-going, authentic charm.
At 16, older and wiser, Reece is putting more into his training, particularly the weight room, building muscle mass fast. He was a little slower than expected at the Atlanta Classic in the 100 and 200 breast, but he attributes the slower swims to being a little tired from the extra work.
From the video above it’s clear Reece is thinking – Make the Olympic Team – which, I think, we all love to hear. That’s a big hurdle for a talent so young. I’d like to see him final in the 100 or 200 breast at U.S. Olympic Trials. I think a fantastic swim in Omaha would be a 4th place finish in the 200 breast, but any experience Reece gets in Omaha bodes well for the future. While I’d love to see a raw, rapidly rising talent make the men’s U.S. Olympic Team, Reece has many more years in the sport. His career will hopefully span the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
What do you think it will take to make the 2016 US Olympic Team in 100m and 200m breaststroke, and what do you think Whitley will clock in those events?
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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.
Reece would still be young in 4 years at only age 20, so this is really impressive. Also, who says I “only go 1:53” in the 2Breast? He is thinking big which is good. I can see this kid blowing through the 2:07 mark, but the question is when.
Plenty of upside to this young man and I agree with most that he’s probably a year or two early to stamp his ticket to Rio, but with that being said anything 1:00 or 2:09-2:10 range would be great for him at trials.
What impressed me is that he doesn’t train much in a 50m pool which I don’t quiet understand. There must not be many 50m pools in the area because he’s the son of two doctors attending a private school that is upwards of $35k per year assuming no scholarships are involved, so i wouldn’t think it would be a financial situation keeping him out of a 50m pool.
Great story about him recently in the NY Times:… Read more »
Not many kids in the northeast get to train in 50m pools… it ain’t California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, etc.
Being a PA swimmer, there aren’t many pools available for 50m training. Many places have 40m or SCM facilities since converting that from yards is easier. The 40m comes from water polo venues being used to gain lcm endurance with what is available. The sky is the limit for this kid though…
Thanks for sharing that info YOUNGFISH11 and CALEB. I’ve never lived in the Northeast nor swam there. I guess swimming on the west coast and in the southwest you see a fair amount of 50m pools, but it makes sense with the dense population in the Northeast.
If he could go under 2:10 I’d be pretty happy. That means by Tokyo he could get down to at least a 2:07.
Barring anything terrible.
I’m realistic and if he made the final in both breaststroke events, it would be a good first step in my opinion. A top 5 would be superb. An olympic qualification would be amazing.
Great kid. Big talent. Gentle giant. Very interesting to hear in interviews unlike some veterans I will not name 🙂 who are so boring!
I predict he will be one of the biggest faces of US swimming in the future and will be a great role model for all kids and of course black kids. So many young talents who could perform in that sport but don’t even try. Hopefully that Mr Whitley can inspre them. And if he can silence all the racists… Read more »
I am imploring you to stop talking about US politics, because you are certainly not familiar with the nuances.
Would you be ok if we start listing all the hypocrisies of the French government and its citizens?
Attila.. Nuances or not, being racist homophobic, etc is unnaceptable.. period..
So in this mr. Whiteley’s case, who’s being racist?
just drop it aside – lets stay with Whitley’s talent for this summer . Thats important , Politics is seriously boring or just plain idiocy .
This is not necessarily the forum for politics, but this young man does and will have to deal with race in a way some other competitors will not.
I remember about a year ago clicking through to an article about in the Philadelphia Inquirer (http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Swimming_Phenom.html) – an enjoyable fluff piece – and when I got down to the comments I was taken aback by the things people felt empowered to say about a (then) 15-year-old boy, including, among other charmers:
“Young Black men should fear other Black men.”
and “My daughters swim competitively and I’ve seen this kid at swim meets. I’ve always pulled for him because of his enormous talent. Now that… Read more »
I swim. I am also asian descent, female, homosexual. I was adopted too.
I feel discriminated against in many facets of life. Can I talk about my aspiration to become a role model for female, asian, lesbian, adoptee swimmers everywhere?
Um, yes?
YES!!! PLEASE talk about your experiences and aspirations to be a role-model! Let’s all work together (with Reece) to make competitive swimming in the US as inclusive a sport as possible!
Out of curiosity – what is being down-voted here? Attila the Hunt asked for specific examples. I provided real-life examples. This isn’t contestable, it is simple fact.
Are you down-voting that people are attacking a kid online? Are you down-voting racism? Articulate your disagreement, if you have one, but the random votes just confuse me.
Nothing makes the simmering anger of America’s culture wars clearer than the intense reaction people seem to have to the simple mention of race and/or racsim. I didn’t embrace Bono’s statement; I merely highlighted an example of some of what Reece face by entering into the public eye (and even if he hadn’t). Down-vote away. If you can’t handle multiculturalism or the idea that people have different experiences related to their precieved race, the next 40+ years are going to be hard on you.
That maybe, but if you throw that out be very specific as to whom you are implying as being such. Knowingly our not he just insinuated that it’s the norm.
People wonder why he gets so many down votes. Calling Americans racist and weighting in on our political system maybe two of the reasons.
thats probably not it since he also gets 100+ downvotes on basic comments like stating a time that was just posted at a meet sometimes. so theres gotta be someone manipulating the system.
Are you sure there’s only one person responsible for downvoting Bobo?
Because I sure have downvoted his comments a few times and I can’t be the only one who does it.
I think in general the comments over the years have caught up with him to the point where they just down vote him as soon as they see his name. For every 10 great comments there’s that 1 where he goes off the rails.
We’ll never know the real reason, but boasting about your predictions and politically charged comments are what I see people complain of most often.
No one is manipulating the system for Bobo’s detriment. They would have to cycle through IP addresses after each vote, search for his name and down vote them a high number of times over a relatively short time span just to support your theory. If someone is doing that feel free to… Read more »
Bobo – love your passion for and comments on swimming. I don’t think this is the right forum for discussion on racism or politics.
I dissent! Keep it coming! Anyone who doesn’t think Reece Whitley will be both an inspiration to many and a lightning rod for haters hasn’t lived in America very long or lives with their eyes covered and ears plugged.
Wait, you are all confusing me!
Are we allowed to debate race, politics and sexuality here?
consider it takes two to tango – if he post a comment on non-swimming topic and no one reply, there will be no “debate” of that topic. If one wants to comment and express view point, can’t see why not.
Saying this under the assumption that if any post does not meet Swimswam’s comment guidelines, the comment gets removed or won’t show up.
I think most Swimswam readers would agree we visit this site for swimming stories and updates. If one wants to engage himself in discussion on non-swimming topics such as politics or racism, there are MANY more appropriate venues.
Going with the rights-free version of On Sight for the beginning of the video? Nice.
Bhahah and the 2nd song sounds like “Turn the Beat Around.”
Hi, I’m just here to talk about the music in these videos.
What a sweet kid….looking forward to many great swims from him. His modesty is refreshing. Keep humble. And Mel, if you needed a second career, you would be great in voice overs. I love your videos ….so easy to watch and listen to.
58.9-59.3 to make the team in 100 BR…
2:07.7-2:08.2 in the 200 BR…
Reece Predictions:
100: 1:00.2 (7th)
200: 2:09.4 (5th)
I think he’ll go a :59.8 and make the team in the 100
As impressive as that time would be, I don’t think 59.8 will make the team in the 100.