Simone Manuel, Bobby Finke Win Final Events Of U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials

By Sharon Robb
INDIANAPOLIS, June 24, 2024—The comeback of Simone Manuel is complete.

The first black female swimmer to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics, won the 50-meter freestyle in 24.13, earning an individual spot on the final night of the U.S. Olympic Trials Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The night before the final, Manuel watched several of her best races on video to remind her just how great a sprinter she is before over training syndrome sidelined her and ruined her physical and mental preparation before the Tokyo Games.

Still, the emotional Manuel seemed surprised when she looked up at the scoreboard and saw that she had won. She pumped her fist after she realized her comeback was successful. She had already clinched a spot at her third Olympics on the 4×100 freestyle relay.

“I wasn’t feeling real confident after last night,” said Manuel, only the fourth-fastest qualifier in the semifinals. “I spent a lot of time watching races where I won. I wanted to channel that Simone who I know I’m a winner.”

Bobby Finke of St. Petersburg Aquatics was the final winner of the night winning the 1500-meter freestyle, setting himself up to defend his titles in the 800 and 1500. Finke won in 14:40.28. David Johnston, after two heartbreaking finishes earlier in the week, nailed the second spot holding on against Luke Whitlock in 14:52.74 to make his first Olympic team.

“This meet didn’t go the way I planned,” said Johnston, who missed out in his other events with a third-place in the 400 freestyle and fourth in the 800 freestyle. “It took everything I had to get to that wall. My legs at 300 meters were completely gone. I’m glad I kind of saved my meet.”

For the first time in the history of the Trials, the event was held inside the National Football League’s Lucas Oil Stadium and attracting record crowds.

More than 1,000 swimmers including twelve from Florida Gold Coast Swimming, competed for 52 spots (two swimmers per individual event) on Team USA headed to the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Summer Olympics.

With doubles, Team USA, led by Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel, has 46 swimmers. The team is hoping to avenge Australia’s dominance at the 2023 World Championships in Japan.

“You know, last year is last year, and this is a new season,” said Anthony Nesty, the 1988 100 butterfly gold medallist for Suriname and University of Florida head coach who will serve as head coach of the US men’s team in Paris. “We are pretty confident.”

Eight teenagers on the squad include the brother-sister duo of Aaron and Alex Shackell and 17-year-old Thomas Heilman, the youngest US male swimmer to make an Olympic team since 15-year-old Michael Phelps and 17-year-old Aaron Piersol competed in Sydney.

NOTES: In addition to head women’s coach Todd DeSorbo of Virginia and men’s coach Anthony Nesty of Florida, the remaining coaching staff are assistants Carol Capitani of Texas, Dave Durden of California, Braden Holloway of N.C. State, Chris Lindauer of Notre Dame, Greg Meehan of Stanford, Chris Plumb of Carmel Swim Club, Ron Aitken of Sandpipers and Cory Chitwood of Indiana.

SUNDAY FINALS
WOMEN
50-meter freestyle:

1. Simone Manuel, SUN 24.13, 2. Gretchen Walsh, NAC 24.15, 3. Abbey Weitzell, CAL 24.26, 4. Torri Huske, AAC 24.33.

MEN
1500-meter freestyle:

1. Bobby Finke, SPA 14:40.28, 2. David Johnston, TST 14:52.74, 3. Luke Whitlock, FAST 14:53.00.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com