Patrick Callan to Compete for National Champion Cal Bears in Fifth Year
A member of last year’s U.S. Olympic team will have a new collegiate home next fall. Patrick Callan finished an unexpected sixth in the men’s 200 freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year to qualify for Tokyo, where he swam the third leg for the U.S. men’s 800 free relay in prelims. However, following Tokyo, Callan struggled during his senior season at the University of Michigan, but he has indicated he will compete for a fifth year in college swimming in a new home.
Callan updated his Instagram bio to tag the Cal men’s swimming program, indicating that the middle-distance standout will be transferring to Cal and joining with head coach Dave Durden and co. as the Golden Bears tries to defend the NCAA title they won this March. Cal won this year’s title behind with fifth-year swimmers Trenton Julian, Bryce Mefford, Daniel Carr and Sean Grieshop serving as major contributors. Callan will attempt to perform similarly well in the extra season allowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Callan also indicated on Instagram that he has already graduated from Michigan, so he will likely complete a graduate program while at Cal.
At this year’s NCAA Championships, Callan finished 22nd in the 200-yard free and 28th in the 500 free, and the U.S. International Team Trials in late April saw the Tulsa, Okla., native place 13th in the 400 free prelims and 14th in the 200 free heats, but he did not compete in the B-finals for which he had qualified.