Michigan grad Ali DeLoof announced on Tuesday she will be moving from San Diego, California to Knoxville, Tennessee to train with Matt Kredich and the Tennessee pro group ahead of the 2021 Olympic Trials. DeLoof had been with David Marsh at Team Elite since mid-2018 when she moved there from her home state of Michigan.
DeLoof was ranked 10th in the United States last year in the 100 backstroke with her 1:00.08 at the LA Invite in June, and was as high as fifth in the early days of 2020 with her 1:00.10 before the coronavirus pushed the Olympic Trials back an extra year. DeLoof will be joining training forces with recent grad Erika Brown, who was a favorite to win a couple events at the NCAA Championships before the meet was cancelled.
Tennessee is coming off its first SEC championship team in school history on the women’s side as Knoxville also currently hosts 2016 Olympian Molly Hannis and professional swimmer Maddy Banic. The Volunteers were seeded to get second before the NCAA meet was cancelled so there is a lot of talent for DeLoof to train with. Ali DeLoof also swam for the New York Breakers in the inaugural year of the International Swimming League, as she was ranked 15th in the world last year in the 100 backstroke short course meters (57.10).
DeLoof also notably has two younger sisters – Gabby and Catie, who were training alongside each other in San Diego.
“Deep down, I know that I can make it to the final in the 100 backstroke. I was there in 2016 and know I can do it again. It is definitely going to be very tough getting one of the top two spots. There is always fear and doubt that creeps in, but as long as I put in my best effort, I can leave feeling good about it. The U.S. is just so deep in the backstroke,” she told Swimming World earlier this summer. “There is no guarantee that the same people who qualified will do it again.”
Even if Ali DeLoof makes the team, she will not be attempting to do it again in 2024.
She has a teaching degree and will be ready to move on to that part of her life after 2021.
“I am really excited to start my career as a teacher, so (swimming) will definitely be over after 2021,” she said. I know what I want to do when I am done swimming and my goals outside of the pool are there. I can close one chapter and start a new one.”