Who Do You Want to Race? Age-Groupers Pick Their Favorite Team USA Stars to Battle
With the U.S. Olympic Trials just weeks away, it is a time of building excitement for swimming fans around the country. Watching the Olympics and Olympic Trials is a memorable experience for young swimmers that also raises the profile of the sport and attracts new fans every four years. Thousands of young swimmers make it their dream to qualify for the Olympics and to be able to swim with the stars they see on their television. Swimming World Magazine asked swimmers around the country to name which Team USA swimmer they would like to race. The answers varied from perennial favorites to new stars.
Parker Hebert, 15, of Loganville, Georgia – Chattahoochee Gold Swim Club: “Probably Bobby Finke, undisputed distance GOAT of our time.”
Colden McKay, 13, of Gainesville, Georgia – Lanier Aquatics: Chose Caeleb Dressel, star of the 2020 Olympics, because he would love the opportunity to race against someone so fast.
Tyson Huynh, 17, of Gainesville, Georgia – Lanier Aquatics: Wants to race Luca Urlando because he is a role model for him in the 200 butterfly.
Esme Hanson, 11, from Eden Prairie, Minnesota – Foxjets Swim Team: “I’d want to race Katie Ledecky because she flies through the water, can do all the strokes and she’d make me swim faster. Also, free is my favorite and I think it’s hers too. Whenever our coaches need us to work on a technique, they pull up videos of Katie and we always learn something.”
Brennan Masters, 11, from Eden Prairie, Minnesota – Foxjets Swim Team: “I would race Lilly King in the 50 or 100 yard breaststroke because she is a GREAT swimmer. She uplifts the USA in her medley relays, and CRUSHES all the other great swimmers in the breaststroke events. I want to be like her someday. Racing her would challenge me to push myself and maybe she could tell me how to become better.”
Diego Ramos, 15, of Arlington, Virginia – Arlington Aquatic Club: “If I had the option to race anyone from Team USA, it would be Michael Andrew. His ultra-fast race pace training intrigues me and it would be interesting to see how he performs at an average practice.”