The 5th-10th places in the team standings at the Big Ten Championships are usually tightly bunched between a variety of teams, and any one of these teams can make a large jump in the team race provided they can sneak in a few extra big heats. If there’s one team that’s already looking like they are poised to break away from the group, it is the Purdue Boilermakers, and though they have primarily been known for their sensational diving talent, senior Lyam Dias will be a driving force behind the Boilermakers’ push in the pool next week.
Dias hails from L’Orignal, Ontario and he came to West Lafayette with a hint of international experience already under his belt. A successful swimmer at the provincial level already, Dias was also a member of the Canadian Junior National Team in 2010, allowing him to compete at the 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. At these Championships, Dias took 8th in the 100 breast (1:04.92), 18th in the 200 back (2:12.69), and 8th in the 200 back (2:17.69).
Upon joining the Boilermakers his freshman year, Dias quickly became a productive member of the team’s IM and breaststroke groups, and he saw a good deal of success at this first visit to the conference championships. At the 2012 Big Ten meet, Dias placed 6th in the 200 breast (1:57.63), 9th in the 200 IM (1:45.79), and 31st in the 400 IM (4:02.09), with his 200 IM setting a new program freshman record. At the time, this swim was also the second-fastest performance in school history.
The summer following Dias’ successful freshman campaign, he would compete once again for his native country at the 2011 Pan American Games, swimming to finishes of 5th in the 200 IM (2:05.06) and 6th in the 400 IM (4:34.11).
Following up on his successful freshman year, Dias only continued to improve, becoming a significant scorer for the Boilermakers’ individually and as a member of the relays. At the 2013 Big Ten Championships, he competed individually in the 200 IM (1:45.31, 10th), 100 breast (54.54, 17th), and 200 breast (1:55.31, 4th), with all three swims representing lifetime bests. He also contributed legs to the Boilermakers’ 200 medley relay (1:27.16, 8th) and 400 medley relay (5th, 3:11.16).
With his performance in the 200 breast, Dias was one of two Purdue swimmers to qualify for an individual event at the 2013 NCAA Championships. At this meet, he would take 61st in the 200 IM (1:48.98), 38th in the 100 breast (54.59), and 19th in the 200 breast (1:56.08) while also helping his team grab 21st in the 200 medley relay (1:27.50). At the end of the year, Dias led his team in all three of his primary individual events.
With two exceptional years already in the books, Dias had arguably his best year with the Boilermakers during the 2013-14 season. His proficiency in the breaststroke events is what was particularly striking about his performances last year, with top finishes of 4th in the 100 breast (52.49), and 2nd in the 200 breast (1:53.06) at the conference championships. Both of those swims marked new school records, while he also added in a 29th place finish in the 200 IM (1:48.97).
As a member of Purdue’s relays, Dias contributed splits on both medley relays once more, helping his team place 8th in the 200 medley relay (1:27.10) and 8th in the 400 medley relay (3:11.59). Notably, his split of 52.46 on the 400 medley relay was the third fastest amongst all breaststroke legs in the event, behind only Michigan’s Richard Funk (50.92) and Indiana’s Cody Miller (52.36).
Dias returned to the NCAA Championships one year wiser, and his improved performances there demonstrated how his prior experience helped with his comfort and approach. He took 19th in the 100 breast (53.11) and 11th in the 200 breast (1:53.58). His 200 breast swim gained him All-American Honorable Mention honors, and represented the first time a Boilermaker had received such an honor in four years. He also helped Purdue take 25th in the 400 medley relay (3:13.90).
We can rest assured knowing that we’ll get to see something fairly special from Dias once again this championship season. He has already swam a 52.81 and a 1:55.22 in the breaststrokes this season with his finishes at the Arena Grand Prix at Minneapolis, and he has been steadily pushed all season long by freshman sensation and fellow teammate, Marat Amaltdinov. Between Dias and Amaltdinov, the Boilermakers are poised to reel in a large haul of points in the breaststroke events next week, and we should see multiple Boilermakers making waves at NCAAs next month as well. Look for Dias to be out fast in prelims, and with the graduation of Indiana breast king Cody Miller, we may see a Boilermaker standing atop the podium by the end of the night.
Best Times (SCY/LCM):
100 Breast: 52.49*/1:02.31
200 Breast: 1:53.06*/2:15.68
100 Fly: 49.33
200 IM: 1:45.31
400 IM: 3:55.74
*Denotes school record
School Major/Degree: French
Favorite Event: 100 Breast
Favorite Hobby/Hidden Talent: Painting/Art
Favorite Movie: Liar Liar
Role Model Growing Up/ Person You’d Like to Meet: Victor Davis
Favorite Food/ Pre-Race Meal: Ice Cream/Shepherds Pie/Any Dessert/ Ok…. Everything edible.
At what age did you become involved with swimming? How did you get into it?
I started swimming when I was 10 years old. My cousins threw me into my grandmother’s pool one summer so I pretty much had to like the water after that.
What is your favorite collegiate swimming memory and why?
Quite recently I won the 4×50 IM relay, and both breaststroke events at my senior meet against our rivals, IU. That was my favorite memory and glad I could have my parents and my girlfriend present to share the moment with.
The Boilermakers have a phenomenal 1-2 punch this year in the breaststroke events with yourself and freshman Marat Amaltdinov providing the necessary firepower. You have already experienced great success on the conference and national level in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, but what has it been like having somebody like Amaltdinov to train with during your senior year? Do you feel like it has elevated your training?
I definitely think having Marat on the team and in the pool everyday for training has given me an extra push in practice and has really given me that competition day in and day out in order for, not only me, but him to get better as well.
The Minneapolis Grand Prix was a fantastic mid-season meet for yourself, as you took third and fourth in the 100 and 200 yard breaststrokes respectively. Furthermore, you were less than a half-second off your personal best in the 100. How do you feel that your performances from that meet set you up for conference and NCAAs this year?
First off I’d like to express how much I love swimming at that meet. I was indeed very happy with the results I achieved and looking back on them as improved form the 2013 Grand Prix. This tells me I am doing exactly what needs to be done and gave me a very big boost of confidence going forward in my training.
What/who do you think has been the single most important catalyst to your swimming career?
The realization that talent can only take you so far. Attention to detail in and out of the pool along with a lot of dedication to the physics of your stroke is what gave me a second chance at being great. Although I have not mastered these just yet, I feel that I am well on my way.
Do you have any plans/commitments following the completion of your collegiate career?
I plan on continuing my training here at Purdue with Coach Ross for one more year to try and make the Olympics.
What should we look forward to from Purdue as a whole at this year’s Big Ten Championships?
As far as the team goes, I think we will surprise a lot of people with the hard work we’ve put in this year. We have become better in the water and have become closer as a team outside of it. We are all excited to put up some big points and place higher than we have in a long time.