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Up & Comers: TNT Swimming’s Levenia Sim
By Shoshanna Rutemiller
Sponsored by
In February 2020, as a 13-year-old, Levenia Sim clocked 1:58.77 in the 200 yard butterfly to break Southeastern Swimming’s 13-14 girls record that was set by three-time Olympic gold medalist Tracy Caulkins 42 years ago in 1978.
Swimming for TNT Swimming of Daphne, Ala., the multi-stroke athlete also holds the NAG record for the 11-12 girls 50 yard backstroke at 25.65. That record was previously held by Regan Smith, the current world record holder in the 100-200 meter back and 400 medley relay.
Sim, now 14, is prepared to compete at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in June in the 100 meter backstroke, qualifying with a time of 1:01.89.
“Levenia has taken on more challenging sets and is now one of our group’s top workout performers,” says her coach, Jan Mittemeyer. “She is an amazing underwater kicker and has clocked a 10.6 from the blocks for 25 yards underwater. She is self-motivated, follows directions and loves to race and have fun.”
Swimming World: What is the best thing you do in swimming?
Levenia Sim: Talking myself through tough sets is something I do best in swimming. Sometimes, I feel like I want to stop or give up in the middle of a set, but I always remind myself of the goals I want to achieve and how finishing this set will get me one step closer to those goals.
SW: What are some of the toughest workouts/sets you’ve done?
LS: One of the toughest sets I have done is 8 x 300 of butterfly. Another set is 3 x 300 IM straight into 3 x 200 IM, then straight into 3 x 100 IM. It was an all-out sprint, from the blocks, with no cool-down in between.
[PHOTO BY MINE KASABOGLU/ISL]
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Swimming World Magazine January 2021 Issue
FEATURES
011 A YEAR LIKE NONE OTHER
by Dan D’Addona
The top story of 2020—the COVID-19 pandemic—impacted all of the year’s stories in aquatics…from age group, high school, college and Masters competition all the way to the Olympics!
012 THE TOP 10 PERFORMANCES OF THE MILLENNIUM’S FIRST 20 YEARS (2000-19)
by John Lohn
One month after we selected the Swimmers of the Millennium (to this point), we have picked the top 10 performances of the millennium’s first 20 years. The swims that were selected were not just based on speed, but carried a certain level of significance or marked a defining moment in the sport.
020 TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
by David Rieder
Michael Andrew has been the target of criticism the last seven-and-a-half years for his decision to turn pro at 14, his unique training style (USRPT), his training plan and more. But he’s also enjoyed success along the way and is ready to move to the next level as he prepares to qualify for the 2021 Olympics.
024 WHO “SHOT” THE SWIMMERS?
by Bruce Wigo
This is the first part of a series that highlights an International Swimming Hall of Fame exhibit showing the history of swimming through the eyes of the photojournalists who have covered the aquatic sports for more than 150 years.
028 A SHOOTING STAR IN SEOUL
by John Lohn
American Matt Biondi had it all. The physique. The pure talent. The inner drive. Add those traits together, and it is no surprise that Matt Biondi—over the span of three Olympiads—cultivated one of the finest careers the sport has ever seen.
031 2020 WORLD & AMERICAN RECORD PROGRESSION
compiled by Andy Ross
033 NUTRITION: IF YOU WANT TO BE AN OLYMPIAN OR WORLD CHAMPION, THEN TRAIN LIKE ONE!
by Dawn Weatherwax
A strong immune system means fewer days out of the water.
038 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH OLIVIA SMOLIGA
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
015 SELLING PROCESS TO SWIMMERS (Part 1)
by Michael J. Stott
In 1993, Swedish cognitive psychologist Anders Ericsson wrote that greatness wasn’t born, but grown. His ideas later formed the basis for the “10,000-hour rule” described in Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers” (2008), which holds that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a skill or field. Known by the term, “process,” to coaches, Swimming World details how they use that learning curve to improve the performance of their swimmers.
036 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE FOR SPRINT AND DISTANCE (Part 1)
by Rod Havriluk
Many sources suggest that swimmers use a different freestyle technique for sprint and distance events. However, science (both physics and research) shows us that a swimmer can optimize performance in events of all distances by using the same arm motion with a different arm coordination.
040 SPECIAL SETS: TOUGH SETS THE DON SWARTZ WAY
by Michael J. Stott
Don Swartz, now at North Bay Aquatics, was Rick DeMont’s coach at Marin Aquatic Club in the early 1970s when he set world records in the 400 and 1500 meter freestyle. The halcyon era was a time of mega yardage being done by the likes of DeMont and fellow Olympians Brian Goodell, Bobby Hackett and Australia’s Steven Holland. When it came to designing tough sets, you could say that Swartz had a front row seat.
043 Q&A WITH COACH KATIE ROBINSON
by Michael J. Stott
044 HOW THEY TRAIN MIRIAM GUEVARA
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
035 DRYSIDE TRAINING: RESOLUTIONS FOR SWIMMING FASTER IN 2021!
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
047 UP & COMERS: LEVENIA SIM
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
027 DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT SPORTS CARTOONS?
042 THE OFFICIAL WORD
046 GUTTERTALK
048 PARTING SHOT
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