USA Swimming’s Olympic Trials Through the Lens of its Alumni
Chalk it up to our shared experiences of growing up pruned in the water or the hours spent travelling together, but USA Swimming Olympians are a tight knit bunch. And though years pass and new generations emerge, we still get together to share memories & laughs… we even make new friends with fellow Olympians that we’ve never met before!
There’s no better place to enjoy the company of my fellow Olympians than every four years at Olympic Trials and this year was no different. I snapped a few photos from last week’s Trials in Omaha that I thought you would all enjoy. These are outstanding athletes but above all, amazing individuals who have gone on to achieve even more success raising families, starting businesses, coaching, volunteering and so much more! I love them all.
And to all of the swimmers who made the 2012 Team USA, welcome aboard!
Now here's a good lookin' bunch! Our gang from Team USA 1976!
'60 '64 Donna de Varona & me. Donna has always been my inspiration... I probably have more photos & clippings of Donna's career than I do from my own! In '76, we met & I love calling her a friend.
(LtoR): '52 Barbara Stark Jordan, '56 Nancy Simons-Peterson, me, '60 Molly Botkin, '52 Jody Alderson Braskamp. Even Olympians get awe-struck! I drew inspiration from these swimming trailblazers as a youngster... it was an absolute pleasure to meet them after all these years!
(LtoR): '76 Bob Jackson, '76 '80 Peter Rocca, '76 Bobby Hackett, '72 '76 Rick Colella, '72 Steve Furniss, '76 Casey Converse, '76 Brian Goodell. Our men's team dominated the medal count in '72 and '76- they're still a great group of guys!
The Butterfly ladies: '84 Mary T. Meagher & me. Mary T's World Records in the 100 & 200 Fly stood for nearly 2 decades!
(LtoR): '76 Wendy Weinberg, '76 Bob Jackson, '76 '80 Peter Rocca, '76 Camille Wright, me. No one wanted to go up against Weinberg in the 800 Free; California boys Jackson & Rocca were among the world's best in backstsroke; Wright & I competed against one another in the 100m Fly in Montreal & are fortunate to live close to each & enjoy those memories often!
Two of the best backstrokers of all time! '76 John Naber & '72 '76 Melissa Belote. Naber brought home 4 Golds from Montreal; Belote won 3 Golds at the tender age of 15 & set a few World Records in the process!
(LtoR): '72 '76 Karen Moe-Thornton (Humphries), me, '76 USA Swimming Coach Jim Montrella. Moe-Thornton & I were dubbed the team 'moms' on the '76 team; Montrella's coaching career is storied- we were lucky to have him in '76!
