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FINIS, Inc. is proud to announce the signing of three-time NCAA champion, Katie McLaughlin. The California native and recent graduate from Cal said on joining #TeamFINIS,
“I’m so excited to partner with FINIS! FINIS is innovative, fun, and loves the water as much as I do.”
McLaughlin began swimming at age 9 for the Mission Viejo Nadadores in Southern California. She comes from a family of high caliber athletes; her mother, also a swimmer, competed for USC in Katie’s specialties, fly and free, and her father played tight-end for Indiana State. She tried a lot of different sports when she was young, including soccer, volleyball and track and settled on swimming when it became her passion.
Katie McLaughlin was a natural at the sport and despite only being 14, qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials. She went on to be a top 10 recruit in the country for the class of 2015, ultimately, choosing to compete for the Cal Golden Bears and Head Coach Teri McKeever.
During her first semester of college she injured her neck while on a training trip in Hawaii. This took her out of competition until Cal’s conference meet, the PAC 12 Championships. Despite a rough start to her college career, she won a total of seven PAC 12 titles as a member of the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle relays and 400 medley relay. Individually, McLaughlin competed at NCAA Championships 3 out of her four years at Cal. During the 2017 NCAA Championships she earned 2nd place in the 200 fly. As a senior, McLaughlin swam on 3 NCAA record setting, gold medal winning relays at the NCAA championships.
Cal’s 200 free relay. Katie McLaughlin (lower left). Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Through her ups and downs in swimming, Katie McLaughlin learned that swimming, like life, doesn’t happen in a straight line.
“I feel like I’ve just been able to figure it out a little bit more, if that makes sense—figure it out training-wise or what I need to do when I’m faced with a conflict or if something doesn’t go my way, not beat myself up over it but learn how I need to recover from that. You know what I mean? Just learning how to treat myself and the people around me and my body and everything.”
Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Her National and International swimming accomplishments include medaling at the 2013 Junior Worlds, 2014 Pan Pacs, 2015 Worlds, 2016 Olympic Trials, 2017 and 2018 U.S. Nationals, 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Most recently she was a member of the ISL LA Current team with Head Coach David Marsh.
Despite having such an accomplished swimming record, she doesn’t feel the need to put pressure on herself to perform. Katie McLaughlin said she swims best when she’s, “just enjoying it and racing to race.” She stays down to earth even during the toughest of training by taking a step back and reminding herself, “how lucky [she is] to have had this experience.”
“Katie is an excellent addition to our team of athletes” said CEO and cofounder John Mix. “Her talent and dedication are what take an athlete from good to great.”
Katie McLaughlin joins the FINIS team that includes Olivia Smoliga, Lia Neal, Mallory Weggemann, James Guy and Anthony Ervin.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with FINIS. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
