Beata Nelson faced a long road to get to the world’s elite again.
After a spectacular college career at Wisconsin that produced a plethora of NCAA championships.
She has been a part of the U.S. national team, and also missed on those spots at times since then.
But Nelson never gave up on her dream of reaching the world’s elite again, and she proved it during the 2022 FINA World Cup, claiming the overall championship in the event. In her final event, she touched first in the 200 IM and erupted in emotion.
“I am not a slap-the-water type of lady, but it has been a long three weeks,” Beata Nelson said. “I have a great support system and coaches and teammates who believe in me, and in my family as well. It is easy to be positive and work through it when I have great people around me. This is a big confidence boost for me. I know I am capable, I just have to put my head in the right place, do the work and hopefully the results will show that moving forward.
“I was competing against swimmers who went to the Olympic Games, who I looked up to, and who I lost to for a number of years. It is a really cool feeling to win the title. I was trying to get as many first places as possible and the points added up. I am really proud. I know I am capable … it is in there.”
It is Nelson’s signature moment in international competition.
“It has not been an easy journey. I missed worlds last year by a spot, which was really disappointing for me,” Nelson said. “I have been putting in a lot of work these past couple years. I am so glad it paid off.”
Nelson scored 173.7 points at the three stops, holding off Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey (165.9).
“I had no expectations coming into this. I just saw it as a great racing opportunity in short-course meters. That is in my wheelhouse and I wanted to take full advantage. I am really happy with the results,” Beata Nelson said. “My family is in the stands, my boyfriend, club coaches all are watching this happen. It is super meaningful. This pool has been a place of special memories for me in the past. It is really cool to get it done on home soil.”
On Saturday in Indianapolis, Nelson performed a difficult double to clinch the title, winning the 200 backstroke (2:00.43) and 200 IM (2:04.92).
“Especially after that loss in the 100 backstroke, I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to rack up some points,” Beata Nelson said. “It was a great opportunity, so it was a no-brainer for me (to do the double). I had to get through the morning, but I felt good about where I was tonight. What a great way to finish it off.”
FINA World Cup Women’s Final Top 10
1 Beata Nelson, USA, 173.7
2 Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong, 165.9
3 Beryl Gastaldello, France, 156.6
4 Kylie Masse, Canada, 152.3
5 Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania, 151.9
6 Louise Hansson, Sweden, 147.8
7 Madison Wilson, Australia, 139.1
8 Ingrid Wilm, Canada, 136.3
9 Anastasia Gorbenko, Israel, 128.7
10 Hali Flickinger, USA, 128.6
Take her to worlds