A Look Back: Gators Swimming & Diving Summer-in-Review
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
In a span of 13 days, and a trip around the globe, a trio of Gator swimmers in Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.), Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) and Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) captured seven world championship titles and four national crowns. The journey began in Queensland, Australia, where the U.S. National Team members reported for training camp. The swimmers then ventured to Shanghai, China, for the 14th annual FINA World Championships, and eventually made it back stateside to Palo Alto, Calif., to compete in the 2011 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.
“I think it's very exciting to have so many of our Gator swimmers be successful on both the international and national levels,” said head coach Gregg Troy, who was an assistant coach for the U.S. men's national team in Shanghai. “It's great for our program and the University of Florida. Not only do we get the opportunity to see our athletes compete on such a competitive level, but we get the chance to watch them succeed.”
It could be said that Beisel, a sophomore at Florida, had the time of her life competing this summer. In just a matter of 48 hours, she claimed her first world championship and captured a national title on the first day of competition in Palo Alto. By the time she wrapped up competition at the 2011 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, she left with more individual national championships (3) than any other swimmer.
On the final night of competition at the 14th FINA World Championships, Beisel swam to gold in the 400 IM after she logged a personal-best 4:31.78 to set a new textile (non-polyurethane suits) best in the event. Her time surpassed the previous textile best mark of 4:32.89, set by Katie Hoff at the 2007 World Championships, by a whole second and put her atop the Florida record books.
Beisel's win marked the sophomore's third gold medal in international competition over the past year, after she claimed the 400 IM and 200 backstroke titles at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif. this past August.
“It was exciting moment,” Beisel recalled. “It's one of the best feelings in the world winning a World Championship. I was glad to get a good swim in the 400 IM and end the meet on a good note.”
After a successful Worlds competition, Beisel racked up her three national titles at the USA Long Course Championships, including a sweep of the women's 200 and 400 IM finals and a race that saw her capture her second consecutive national title, third overall in the 200 back. The Rhode Island native also collected a bronze in the 400 free to bring her total medal count to four throughout the meet.
Beisel recorded a personal-best 2:10.75 in her 200 IM championship race, placing her seventh in the world this year for the event. With her winning 4:34.78 mark in the 400 IM, Beisel holds the fourth-fastest mark this year in the event behind her leading world championship performance (4:31.78) set just two days earlier. With her record swims throughout the two meets, including a 4:34.95 swam during the prelims in Shanghai, the UF swimmer carries three of the top seven times of 2011 to date.
The five-time All-American swam a 32.34 split in the final 50 meters of the 200 back to propel past the pool of competitors, clock in at 2:08.81 and defend her 2009 national title with a gold medal performance.
Lochte, the World Championships' Male Athlete of the Meet, highlighted the World Championships by collecting five crowns in both the 200- and 400-meter individual medley events, the 200 free, the 200 back and as a member of the 4x200 freestyle relay team. He also grabbed a bronze medal as a member of the U.S. Men's 400-meter freestyle relay team.
In an effort to defend his world title in the 200 IM, Lochte became the first swimmer to record a world record after the ban of polyurethane suits when he clocked a record-setting 1:54 in the event. The Gator great became only the second man to have won both the 200 and 400 individual medley titles in consecutive championships (2009 & 2011 FINA World Championships) alongside Hungary's Tamas Darnyl (1986 and 1991).
“I'm definitely a completely different swimmer than I was in 2008,” Lochte explained following his stellar performance in Shanghai. “I'm definitely stronger and smarter now.”
Seven-time All-American Dwyer, also earned a gold medal as a member of the U.S. 4x200 freestyle relay team at the 2011 FINA World Championships. Dwyer swam a 1:47.31 split during prelims of the event, to propel the United States team to the top qualifying time heading into the evening finals.
At the 2011 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, the Winnetka, Ill., native captured the 200 IM crown in a personal-best 1:59.19. The time put him 15th in the world in the event, and improved his previous best of 1:59.34 set during prelims in Palo Alto.
“It was nice to go under two minutes,” Dwyer said. “It was a great feeling to win the race.”
Training in Gainesville, and a member of the Gator Swim Club, three-time Olympic medalist Peter Vanderkaay also took to the pool at the World and USA Long Course Championships. Vanderkaay, who trains alongside Lochte, also took home gold as a member of the winning 4x200 freestyle relay in Shanghai. The Michigan native swam a 1:46.07 split in the second leg of the race to help the team touch the wall in 7:02.67.
Vanderkaay also won the 200-meter free title at the USA Swimming Long Course National Championships with a 1:46.45 performance. Posting splits of 25.19, 27.12, 27.13 and 27.01, respectively, putting him eighth in the world this year.
While three Gator swimmers won various world and national titles, seventeen Florida representatives were on deck in Shanghai to swim for their country. Thirty seven past and present Gators were present in Palo Alto to take to the pool for the 2011 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.
Just a week after the U.S. National Championships, University of Florida associate head swimming coach, Anthony Nesty, helped lead the U.S. team as an assistant coach at the World University games to a competition-high 27 medals with 12 gold, 11 silver and four bronze medals between pool and open water events in Shenzhen, China. The appointment marks the first time that Nesty has appeared on staff for a U.S. international squad.
“It was a wonderful experience coaching the United States at the World University Games,” remarked Nesty on his time in Shenzhen this summer. “I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity in my first appointment on the U.S. staff.”
Nesty was in Shenzhen to see Gator and USA Swimming Junior National Team member Connor Signorin (East Windsor, N.J.) finish seventh in the 10K Open Water event, clocking in at 2:26:06. The U.S. assistant coach also tutored fellow UF swimmer Sebastien Rousseau (Cape Town, South Africa) representing South Africa, as he led his 4x200 free relay team to a fourth-place finish by swimming the second leg, and fastest split (1:48.69). Rousseau also took seventh in the 200 IM, recording a 2:02.56 swim.
With summer competition behind them, the Gators' 2011-12 season is right around the corner with the All-Florida Invitational. Six other schools from across the state will travel to Gainesville through October 7-9 in Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Southern, Florida State, Miami and Nova Southeastern to take part in the three-day competition.
For all the latest information about Florida Swimming and Diving continue to check www.GatorZone.com. Gator fans are also encouraged to follow the swimming and diving program via Twitter or Facebook.
