2016 Olympian Dylan Carter is set to will be T & T’s lone representative when the Biennial FINA World Short Course Championships splashes off from December 6 – 11 2016 in Windsor Canada.
Carter is scheduled to compete in the 100m backstroke tomorrow morning, with a evening swim in the semifinals should he make the top 16. He expressed optimism at his chances at Worlds following some fantastic swims for his University of Southern California (USC) college team.
“Preparation has been phenomenal. I was with my college team last week in Austin, Texas where I recorded several best times that rank me top 5 in the NCAA right now”, Carter remarked. “So I am really optimistic about this week”.
The multiple national record holder and swimming’s nominee for the 2016 First Citizens Sportsman of the Year award, gave his USC Trojans the lead as he swum the fastest lead off time in the 800 yard freestyle relay clocking 1:32.62. USC eventually settled for silver in this and the 400 free relay at last weekend’s 2016 Texas Invitational. The 400 free saw Carter swim the fastest anchor leg among all the teams. Carter also won silver in the 50 free and 100 butterfly, and a gold in the 100 free.
Carter’s T & T based coach Franz Huggins is encouraged by his recent performances and is hoping for a berth in the finals for his charge.
“Dylan just finished a successful weekend at the Texas invite where he swam 4 best times and is now ranked as the number one 200m freestyle in collegiate swimming, ahead of Olympic Gold medallists Clark Smith and Townley Haas. All those best times were achieved without shaving.”
Along with the 100 back, Carter is scheduled to compete in the 200 free on Wednesday, 50 fly on Friday and the 100 free on Saturday, and Huggins is confident that Carter will give an excellent account of himself.
“200 free is something I continue to encourage him to do, as I think it is his best event. With his renewed enthusiasm for it, he has been excelling at it. 100m free is the short version, which is what he swam at the Olympic Games. 100m back is a great event for him short course and the event he used to gain qualification to the meet. 50 fly is what he got to the semi finals in at World Aquatics in 2015 and also won a silver medal in at World Junior Championships in 2013.”
Dr. David Salo who is the head coach at USC, will accompany Carter to the Canada hosted championships. According to Huggins, Salo has been working with Carter since 2013.
“Dave has coached Olympic Gold Medalists and World Champions in the past, so his pedigree speaks for itself. Also note that he has worked with international athletes and brought them great success, so his attentiveness where Dylan is concerned has never been questioned. Dr Salo and myself have a good relationship, and where needed, work together for the mutual benefit of the athlete and the coaches.”
The first-ever FINA World Short Course (25m) Swimming Championships to be staged in Canada will take place at the spectacular WFCU Centre, an arena facility among the best in its class in North America. No stranger to intense competition and action, this 6,700-seat arena is the proud home of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, as well as the reigning champions of the National Basketball League of Canada, the Windsor Express.
News courtesy of ASATT.
1
Leave a Reply
1
Watched Dylan swim at the Texas invite last week, He’s the real deal! Good luck Dylan and Fight on!