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NOVA of Virginia’s Zoe Dixon: Versatility Is Key
By Michael J. Stott
Zoe Dixon, 2021-22 National Junior Team member, has had quite a year. Swimming for Coach Norm Wright at NOVA of Virginia, the 17-year-old is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and 11th nationally for the Class of 2022, and has committed to the University of Florida.
NOVA of Virginia’s Zoe Dixon recently returned from October’s FINA World Cup meets (SCM) in Berlin and Budapest with five top 10 individual finishes, including three fifth-place performances in the 200 meter fly (2:10.94), 200 IM (2:10.22) and 400 IM (4:37.76).
Her run-up to Europe was just short of spectacular. In February, she won the VHSL Class 5 high school state championship in the 200 yard IM (1:57.22) and placed second in the 100 back in 54.29. In April, NOVA finished first in women’s and combined at the NCSA Spring Invite, where Dixon was top eight in seven events. She placed first in the 400 yard IM (4:08.06) and third in the 200 back (1:54.06) and 200 IM (1:57.90), good for sixth-place in the women’s high-point competition.
NOVA’s head coach, Norm Wright, formerly at Northern Kentucky Clippers, leads Dixon’s training group. He succeeded Geoff Brown, whose well-rounded approach to training has served Dixon and NOVA well. At Olympic Trials (Wave II), Dixon qualified for five events, with her best results coming in the 200 meter IM (2:14.89 for 19th out of 51 swimmers) and 400 IM (4:42.25, 13/42).
Wright’s take on her Omaha performance mirrors that of many first-timers: “She was better and faster physically in practice than at Trials. The newness and nerves, the COVID testing and protocols created a different dynamic than we have experienced before. There were a lot of moving pieces at Trials.
“I knew she could have been swimming faster, and that was proven at the end of the summer at the NCSA Summer Championships.” In Huntsville, Dixon notched four firsts, three seconds, a fifth, eighth and 10th. Two of her victories were state records: 200 meter fly (2:13.34) and 200 IM (2:12.62). Her other wins came in the 200 breast (2:29.82) and 400 IM (4:42.25). For the meet, NOVA men and women each finished third in team scoring and second in combined.
“While her summer NCSA times were not at the top end of her ability, they were a testament to the work we did all year,” says Wright. “She has more in the tank. I think this coming year could be better than her performance in August. She has trained phenomenally, is extremely coachable, very open to critiques, feedback and changes. She has unfinished business.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO COLLEGE
A quick look at Dixon’s best events reveals a college coach’s dream. In the USA Swimming short course power-point rankings, she scores in the high 800s and 900s in the 100/200 stroke events, and 979 and 990 in the 200 and 400 IM.
“Zoe is very versatile,” says Wright. A former gymnast with great strength, “she is technically sound and can swim all four strokes really well. The weakest part of her IMs is the freestyle. She had five Wave II cuts, but the 200 free wasn’t one of them. That’s where I think her greatest improvement could come. Florida well help her with that.
Michael J. Stott is an ASCA Level 5 coach, golf and swimming writer. His critically acclaimed coming-of-age golf novel, “Too Much Loft,” was published in June 2021, and is available from store. Bookbaby.com, Amazon, B&N and book distributors worldwide.
[Dressel Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher / USA Today Sports]
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FEATURES
014 2021 SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
by Dan D’Addona, Matthew De George, John Lohn and David Rieder
World: Caeleb Dressel (Male American) & Emma McKeon (Female Pacific Rim)
Male Pacific Rim: Zac Stubblety-Cook
Female American: Katie Ledecky
European: Evgeny Rylov & Sarah Sjostrom
African: Ahmed Hafnaoui & Tatjana Schoenmaker
022 THE TOP 10 PERFORMANCES OF 2021
by John Lohn
Five-time Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel heads the list of the best swimming performances produced in 2021, thanks to his world record in the 100 meter butterfly at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Overall, the top 10 performances consisted of seven women’s efforts and three from the men. A further breakdown reveals seven individual swims and three world record-setting relays.
025 HONG KONG HERO
by David Rieder
People gathered in shopping malls, crowding in front of big screens to watch their national hero race for Olympic medals. Others watched on office conference room TVs, while passengers on the train had their mobile devices tuned to the Tokyo Games. What they saw was Siobhan Haughey become the first and only Olympian from Hong Kong to capture multiple medals—two silvers in the 100 and 200 freestyle.
032 ISHOF FEATURE: AQUATOTS MURDER CASE—THE KATHY TONGAY STORY (Part 3)
by Bruce Wigo
This is the final story of a three-part series about “The Aquatots Murder Case” regarding the death of 5-year-old Kathy Tongay and the subsequent murder charge against her father, Russell. This month’s episode: Russell Tongay’s appeal, life in (and out) of prison, what happened to Kathy’s brother, Bubber, and the impact the case had on age group sports in America.
044 NUTRITION: HOLIDAY/INTENSE TRAINING
by Dawn Weatherwax
To train hard, you need to eat hard! Make sure you put as much emphasis on nutrition and sleep as you would on your workouts.
COACHING
036 COACHING IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
Last month, in Part 1, Swimming World explored how COVID-19 altered swim training as we have known it. This month, we look at some issues and opportunities facing club swimming as it strives to be the sport of choice for a younger generation.
042 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: MAXIMIZING SWIMMING VELOCITY (Part 6)—THE PUSH PHASE
by Rod Havriluk
In freestyle and butterfly, swimmers typically decrease the push phase time to increase stroke rate and swimming velocity. In doing so, the premature upward motion of the elbows pulls the hands upward and compromises propulsion. Most swimmers can gain additional propulsion on the push phase by pushing the hand backward instead of pulling the hand upward.
045 SPECIAL SETS: ZOE DIXON—VERSATILITY IS KEY
by Michael J. Stott
Zoe Dixon, 2021-22 National Junior Team member, has had quite a year. Swimming for Coach Norm Wright at NOVA of Virginia, the 17-year-old is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and 11th nationally for the Class of 2022, and has committed to the University of Florida.
047 Q&A WITH COACH BRENT BOOCK, ELMBROOK SWIM CLUB (Wis.)
by Michael J. Stott
048 HOW THEY TRAIN CAMPBELL STOLL
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
041 DRYSIDE TRAINING: FINISH STRONG
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
051 UP & COMERS: THOMAS HEILMAN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
012 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT THE 1951 PAN AMERICAN GAMES?
028 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
050 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
052 GUTTERTALK
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