Olivia Scott: Butterfly/Freestyle
Personal and Youth Swimming:
Olivia Scott was born in Elk Grove, Illinois to parents Mitch and Emily Scott on August 6, 1992. As a young club swimmer, Scott competed on the Academy Bullets Swim Club. She also represented her high school, Rosary High School, as one of Illinois’ best high school swimmers ever. During her time as a high school swimmer, Scott, who swam under head coach Bill Schalz, earned herself 15 Illinois state medals. Nine of those medals were gold. Scott was a three-time champion in the 100-yard butterfly, a two-time champion in the 200-yard IM, and a four-time team relay champion. Scott is also the state record holder in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 53.09. Scott also helped lead Rosary to four high school state championships from 2006-2009.
College Swimming:
One of the top female recruits coming out of high school in 2010, Scott committed to Auburn University to earn her undergraduate degree in public relations and swim under head coach Brett Hawke.
Scott’s freshman year she scored points in all three of her individual events. She finished eighth in the 100-yard butterfly (52.62), 11th in the 100-yard freestyle (49.31), and 14th in the 50-yard freestyle (22.97). Scott was also a member of Auburn’s 200-yard medley relay that broke the school record and won gold, and a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay that won gold as well. At the 2011 NCAA Championships, she earned herself All-American Honorable Mention honors in the 400-yard medley relay that finished 11th with a 3:33.92 and earned herself All-American honors in the 200-yard medley relay that finished fourth with a 1:36.62 and in the 100-yard butterfly where she finished sixth with a 52.29. Scott finished her freshman year with 2011 All-SEC freshman honors.
Sophomore year, Scott earned two silver medals at the 2012 SEC Championships in the 100-yard butterfly (52.04) and the 200-yard medley relay (1:36.47). At SEC’s she also took 14th place in the 50-yard freestyle (22.99), 11th in the 100-yard freestyle (49.58),and fourth in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:06.47). At the 2012 NCAA Championships, Scott finished second in the 100-yard butterfly with a school-record time of 51.46. She was also a member of the 400-yard free relay that finished second and broke the school record, the 200-yard medley relay that finished fourth, and the 400-yard medley relay that set the school record and finished fifth. Individually, Scott broke the school record in the 100-yard butterfly and finished second with a 51.61. Scott concluded the 2012 NCAA’s with four All-American honors.
Her junior year, Scott added two more All-American Honorable Mention Honors and two All-American honors. At the 2013 NCAA Championships, Scott helped the 400-yard medley relay to a ninth place finish and anchored the 400-yard freestyle relay to finish 11th. She was also a member of the 200-yard medley relay that finished seventh. Scott’s most significant accomplishment of her junior year was her first NCAA title in the 100-yard butterfly. Scott swam a 51.64, the second-fastest time in Auburn history.
In the middle of Scott’s senior year at Auburn University, she decided to “take time away” from swimming. The reigning NCAA 100 butterfly champion never returned to swim at SECs, swim NCAAs, or complete her collegiate eligibility.
National and International Swimming:
Scott qualified for her first Olympic Trials in 2008. She qualified in the 100-meter butterfly where she finished 84th with a final time of 1:02.07. Over the next four years, Scott made tremendous progress, qualifying for her second Olympic Trials in 2012. She not only qualified in the 100-meter butterfly, but Scott semi-finaled, finishing 10th overall with a time of 58.99.
Scott is a three-time member of the US Junior National Team (2008, 2009, 2010). Her 100-meter butterfly performance (59.25) at the 2013 US National Championships earned Scott a spot on her fourth national team, the 2013-2014 US National Team.
-Originally developed by Elle Meinholz
