World University Games Recap
I hope you have been having as great of a summer as I have! July was an eventful month containing time spent with friends, a final tune up to get ready for Berlin, a pair of gold medals and then some tourism in Europe. I also have a new partnership to announce, let’s talk about all the highlights!
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All pictures of Violet brought to you by Victoria Veterinary Hospital
What’s Happening?
Engagement Party and Lake Day for the Fourth
In back-to-back weekends, I got to spend quality time with friends. First, I drove to Wichita, KS to celebrate the engagement of two Mizzou alumni and former teammates. Many of my favorite people who I don’t get to see often were there and it was awesome getting to catch up. The following weekend, my friend invited me to his parents’ house on the lake in St Louis. If you’ve been receiving my updates for a while, you probably understand how much I love being out on the lake. Lake life is my favorite, so I was happy to spend Independence Day in that manner!
Sectionals Tune Up
Before heading out to Berlin for the World University Games, I raced in Columbia, MO at Speedo Sectionals. I chose the 100m butterfly as my final tune up and it went well. I swam a strong 52.85 for first. My season best from Nationals is 52.15, so being close to that a week out from racing in Germany was a nice confidence booster. A few days later, I flew out to Europe with Team USA. Check out how I pack for a big competition and how I ensure it’s #ThePerfectTrip.
WUGs
Upon arrival in Berlin, we had a few days to prepare for the meet and I went through my final preparation process I’ve become so familiar with. As a stringer to get into race mode, I swam a 100m freestyle from a relay start. I went a 48.2 which is just off my PB of 48.1. I was gunning for a 47, but I was still impressed with my time given I hadn’t finished shaving yet and was wearing an older tech suit.
My first race was the 200m butterfly and I kicked it off great, cruising to a 1:56.82 in prelims for the top seed into semi-finals. I felt in control and finished well. In the evening, things did not go so well and I added to go a 1:57.54. This tied me for 7th and just barely got me a place in the final the following evening! I was in control for the first 150, but then I lost my rhythm and had a disastrous finish. I chose not to read too much into that race and do all I could to prepare for the final. If you have a lane, you have a chance. This mindset worked as I won the final from lane 1 in a time of 1:55.59! I finished 0.26 ahead of the next competitor and swam my second fastest time ever. Before the race, I was terrified I wouldn’t medal, but swam my own race and never gave up down the stretch. Those were the exact words that my roommate, Kamal Muhammad, told me earlier in the day and what was going through my head in those brutal last meters. I have so rarely put together my best race (most painstakingly when I placed 5th in the 200m freestyle at the Chengdu edition of the games), so I am so thankful that I figured it out here and got redemption. This sets me up wonderfully going into the rest of the Olympic quad!
After such a riveting performance in the 200m butterfly, I was given the opportunity to race on the 4x200m freestyle relay. In the morning prelim, I swam a smooth race going second and still went a fantastic time of 1:46.11. I split a 1:45.7 from a relay start at the 2023 Santiago Pan-American Games and my flat start PB was set at Nationals in 1:46.58. With the reduced amount of effort I put into that race, I had loads of confidence going into finals. In the evening, I was moved to the third leg of the four man team. When I dove in, we had a small lead, but I split a massive PB of 1:45.14 and ballooned our lead to nearly three seconds. My time was an extremely competitive split that would be impactful on any World Championship or Olympic relay. We broke the FISU record in the relay and took home another gold medal! What a way to close out my meet!
Travel in Berlin and Amsterdam
After the competition finished up, I spent some time site-seeing in Berlin. I saw many of the main attractions such as the Brandenburg gate and the Berlin Wall. Since travel is so easy in Europe, my mom, Audrey and I decided to take an overnight train to Amsterdam. It wasn’t the best sleeping arrangements, but we saved money not staying in a hotel that night! In Amsterdam, I loved the cute buildings and endless stream of bikers. The highlights for me were the Dutch Resistance Museum, a canal tour in a 115 year old boat that had been outfitted with an electric motor, and walking along the many historic streets. The elegant Rijksmuseum, nautical Maritime Museum and scandalous De Wallen street were also interesting.
Looking Ahead
Summer Champs
I am in great form right now and am going to race at the Summer Champs coming up. Continuing my rest and swimming the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly will be refreshing. This meet can also qualify me for the Pan Pacific Championships next summer, so either the 200m freestyle or butterfly will also be on the docket.
Molotherapy x JD
Before The World University Games, I got treatment on my shoulders with SoftWave therapy from Molotherapy. I am pleased to announce that we are partnering. SoftWave therapy is a cutting edge treatment that can help with recovery and stimulate stem cell activity. Derek is super knowledgeable and I am looking forward to working with him to reach new limits!
At the Pan-American Games, I placed third and Mason Laur was the champion. This time around, I won and he placed third! He has been a phenomenal teammate and influence in the pre-race call room, I’m honored to represent the US along his side.
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