Monday 17 June 2024

2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Olivia Smoliga (#4) Withdraws from 1Back (Day 3 Prelims Scratches) | SwimSwam

By Mark Wild on SwimSwam

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

Day three of the 2024 US Olympic Trials are about to to commence in a few hours. In perusing this moring’s heat sheets, a few scratches appeared to carry some more weight and bigger implication than others.

The highest ranked scratch from the moring was Olivia Smoliga. The UGA college star, who moved training bases to swim at ASU with Bob Bowman and appears to be staying at the sprint orienteated pro-group in Tempe under Herbie Behm. Smoligia appeared as the #4 seed in the psych sheets for the 100 back behind American Record Holder Regan Smith. Smoliga, who represented the US at both the Rio and Tokyo Games, has shifted away from the backstroke a little instead putting more attention on her sprint freestyle capabilities.

Smoligia was not the only top 16 seed in the 100 back to bow out of the morning swims, as 2021 Tokyo Olympian, Catie DeLoof appears to be following the same strategy as Smoliga and is putting all of her eggs into the 100 free basket and its six potential roster spots.

One other scratch that stands out is Bella Sims withdrawal from the 400 IM. Sims was initially the #10 seed in the event, but at least on paper appears to have chosen the 100 back where she is the #38 seed.

See below for a full list of scratches:

Women’s 400 IM

Women’s 100 Backstroke

Men’s 800 Freestyle

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