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Commentary by Jeff Commings, Swimming World senior writer
The American women are in good position to take the lion’s share of gold medals at this year’s World University Games swimming competition, which begins Saturday in South Korea.
In 2013, the Americans were swamped by host Russia, which had put several super-elite athletes on its squad in preparation for the world championships. The Russians have a much smaller squad this year, and might have trouble finishing in the top three on the medal table.
The American women’s team is pretty much entirely new to the World University Games experience, a telling sign about the rapidly-changing landscape of women’s swimming in the United States. Chelsea Chenault and Sarah Henry are the only American medalists from 2013 to return to the meet, while 2011 participant Shannon Vreeland is back as a strong leader in and out of the pool.
Chenault was part of the winning 800 free relay in 2013, and will likely earn another gold medal. The Americans might be the only team to break 8:00 in the event, a great accomplishment given that this is not Team USA’s top squad. As for Henry, she was the silver medalist in the 200 IM at the 2013 meet, but is in line for gold in the 400 IM. Henry won the NCAA title in the event, and will use the momentum to carry her to a possible first international gold medal.
Photo Courtesy: David Farr
Look for Vreeland to be in the medal hunt of the 200 freestyle, and with her 100 freestyle prowess staying strong, she could get a medal there as well. Nonetheless, her relay expertise (she’s swimming both freestyle relays at the world championships) will come in handy in South Korea.
Abbey Weitzeil is in line to sweep the sprint freestyles for the United States as she uses the meet as a warmup for the 400 free relay at the world championships. Weitzeil has been making big strides in the long course pool since earning a spot on the world championship relay team, and she’ll be attempting to put up some quick times in the 50 and 100 freestyles.
Italy and Ireland look to be two teams that could do well in the women’s competition. Martina de Memme is the only returning women’s swimming champion from the 2013 meet, and she’ll be looking to defend her 400 and 800 freestyle titles for Italy. Leah Smith, the new NCAA record holder in the 500-yard freestyle, is going to be tough in the 400-meter free. Look for her to approach her lifetime best of 4:06.28, which she’ll need to win gold. Martina Caramignoli of Italy will be toying with the 16:00 barrier in the 1500 freestyle, which might be too fast for her competitors. Katy Campbell, the reigning long course 1500 freestyle national champion, might be Team USA’s best chance to hold the Italian at bay, if she elects to swim the non-Olympic event.
Ireland’s Grainne Murphy is on the comeback trail after taking some time away from the pool after the 2012 Olympics. Some time training in France has helped her get back into form, and she’ll be looking for distance freestyle medals in South Korea. Murphy comes into the meet with arguably the most international racing experience, so we’ll see if that helps her in the coming days.
Photo Courtesy: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
Fiona Doyle could earn multiple medals in the breaststrokes, but the Irish national record holder will have to fend off the likes of Americans Emma Reaney and Molly Hannis, as well as Japan’s Keiko Fukudome. Doyle was the silver medalist in the 100 breast at the 2013 World University Games, and will use this meet as racing prep for the world championships a month later.
Rachel Bootsma, another swimmer competing in the World University Games and world championships, is a heavy favorite for the 100 backstroke gold medal, but will be pushed by Italy’s Arianna Barbieri and teammate Elizabeth Pelton.
If any team can prevent the American women from sweeping the relay events, it’s Italy. The Italians have a strong 400 medley relay lineup that could challenge the best from this American squad, though they’ll have to be well ahead after butterfly to hold off Weitzeil, who is likely to anchor Team USA on freestyle.
Vreeland is faster in the 100 free or am I wrong?
Vreeland’s best time in the 100 is faster than Weitzeil’s, but I think that will change after this meet.