There was a lot of young talent at the Olympic trials in June, and many of those youths performed stupendously, even if that didn’t mean making the team, or should I say Olympic team. With Jr Pan Pacific Championships coming up this week, the trials served as a selection meet for the Jr team as well as the Olympic team.
One of the stories that really stood out of these youths was Austin Katz. He was 17 at Trials and made the final of the 200 Backstroke. Not only did this make for a great accomplishment, but also for a great fact to hold over an older brothers head. Austin’s older brother had placed 11th in the same event at the previous Olympic trials in 2012, and coming in it was one of Austin’s goals to place higher, which he succeeded in, winding up 5th in the final.
Look for Austin to make some noise in more than just the backstroke events in Maui this week. He’s entered in everything but breaststroke, and regardless of what he actually ends up swimming, he said he’s very much looking forward to taper time again.
Future of American backstroke right there.
Yeah – Murphy should retire any day…
Murphy is the cog in the wheel in US swimming…..he will be at his best during the next olympic cycle….i think Michael Taylor will be at the peak while the Tokyo olympic rolls around….
Is Alex still swimming? He was on the roster at UF last year but he did not swim any meets.
I don’t know, but he had just transferred so I assume he wasn’t eligible for NCAA last year.