Natalie Coughlin, Cody Miller To Lead D.C. Trident Into ISL Battle
Natalie Coughlin, the 2004 and 2008 Olympic champion who was the first woman ever to break the minute over 100m backstroke, back in 2002, will be the team Captain for D.C. Trident in International Swimming League racing.
Fellow American, relay Olympic gold medalist and YouTube star Cody Miller serving as Vice-Captain.
Both Coughlin and Miller were voted into their roles by their teammates, D.C. Trident General Manager Kaitlin Sandeno announced today. The Trident will make their global Pro-Team debut when the International Swimming League gets underway in Indianapolis on October 5-6.
Coughlin made her comeback to the fast lane because of the League and the opportunities and thrills the new pro-swimming era brings.
“I cannot be more excited and proud by my team’s selections for Captain and Vice-Captain,” said Sandeno.
“Natalie has not only been a hallmark of American swimming, she is a true leader and someone who can inspire this team and guide us to victory. The same can be said for Cody. His energy and positivity are infectious, and those traits are only be matched by his ability in the water. I am beyond proud to have these incredible athletes as the leaders of this team!”
Cody Miller; Photo Courtesy: PHLEX
Quick-Fire Facts:
- Natalie Coughlin is tied for the most Olympic medals by any American female athlete in any sport with 12, and was the first woman ever to break 1:00 in the 100m backstroke.
- Outside of her swimming career, Natalie has launched two successful ventures in the food and beverage industry, with her Napa-based wine label Gaderian Wines, and her 2019 cookbook Cook to Thrive.
- Cody Miller is a two-time Olympic medalist, capturing a gold in the 4x100m medley relay and bronze in the 100m breaststroke, both at the 2016 games in Rio.
- In addition to his prowess in the water, Cody has built an impressive social media following, namely his 100,000+ YouTube subscribers and videos that garner 40,000+ views each.
D.C Trident Online:
- D.C. Trident Upper Deck pre-order
- D.C. Trident on Instagram
- D.C. Trident on Facebook
- D.C. Trident on Twitter
Down Memory Lane With Coughlin
from the Archive – Craig Lord
Notes from Melbourne 2007 World Championships. What a day this was for the United States at 2007 World titles in Melbourne. Michael Phelps, at the start of a stunning campaign – 1:43.86 200 free; Natalie Coughlin goes 59.44 in the 100m back; Kate Ziegler falls just shy of Janet Evans‘ world mark over 1500m free; Aaron Peirsol goes 0.02sec under 53sec over 100 back. Three world records and a near miss.
And then there was the 200m freestyle Federica Pellegrini, the first Italian woman to hold a swimming world record since Novella Calligaris in 1973 – 1:56.47sec, 0.17sec inside Franziska Van Almsick‘s standard to end the German’s 13-year reign at the helm of four-lap speed. And that was just the semi, Laure Manaudouwaiting in the wings to have a big say in what would happen 24 hours later.
The party started this day 10 years ago with the death of Ian Thorpe‘s 200m free standard. Phelps became the first man under 1:44, and this is how he did it:
- Phelps: 24.47; 51.00; 1:17.73; 1:43.86 2007
- Thorpe: 24.81; 51.45; 1:18.26; 1:44.06 2002
Phelps won from the front, emerging from his start a metre ahead of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who was in the race until 150m before the American put in a last turn so efficient in its dolphin-kicking mastery that any hope of a challenge from the Dutchman had been sunk without trace by the time Phelps rose like a killer whale into his stroke and struck for home. The sport would never be the same, the impact of the fifth stroke hidden for a while a year later as the shiny suits made their presence felt at the stat of a short-lived artificial fast-forward.
In Phelps’ wake, the 2000 Olympic champion took silver on 1:46.28, with Korea’s Park Tae Hwan, the 400m champion, third on 1:46.73.
Natalie Coughlin Sets The Pace
USA’s Natalie Coughlin – by Patrick B. Kraemer
Coughlin was the next American to have a blast: she turned at the half-way mark of the 100m backstroke in 28.30, 0.79sec ahead of France’s Manaudou and 0.56sec inside her own world record pace.
Beyond a stunner of a dolphin gain off the wall, it was a matter of holding on, and one more metre would have done it for Manaudou, but the clock stopped for Coughlin first at 59.44, 0.14sec inside her target, the 59.58 at which she had become the first woman ever inside the minute back in 2002. Manaudou became the second woman ever below 1min, in a European record of 59.87. Bronze went to Japan’s Reiko Nakamura in 1:00.40, locking 14-year-old Emily Seebohm (AUS) out of the medals by 0.12sec. A name for the future.
Coughlin had arrived in Melbourne saying she felt “really strong” on backstroke. That meant sub-minute was on. Coughlin duly delivered. On the deck at Geelong on USA camp, she said could offer no tips to rivals in the art of 59-sec racing.
Coughlin is in a class of her own over two laps backstroke: she owns [2007] nine of the fastest 10 times ever (and then counting the effort of He Cihong of the disgraced Golden Flowers of 1994). Coughlin dipped below the minute four times and matched the minute twice on her way to Melbourne.
Asked what made the difference between an effort of 60-point and one the right side of speed, the Californian with the movie-star looks and coached by Teri McKeever at Cal Aquatics smiled as she replied:
“I have no idea what the difference is. If I did maybe I’d get under every time…I just know I’m really looking forward to that race the most.”
Philippe Lucas and charge Laure Manaudou – courtesy of ISHOF
Manaudou joined her in the sub-minute club and was back within 20 mins to race the 1,500m freestyle, and while she set out over the first 400m as if intending to be competitive, she realised that she would not be able to stay on terms with Kate Ziegler, of the US, and decided to swim down through the race in readiness for the 200m semi-final.
Federica Pellegrini [By Patrick B. Kraemer]
2019: Coughlin is back – with a new team cheer and leading a new, international shoal – with a trident in her hand.