Noemie Thomas has broken out onto the international scene over the last few years and truly shown the potential she has in the fly events. The BC native made her World Championships debut last year in Barcelona, finishing seventh in the 100m fly with a time of 58.13.
Most recently since Worlds, she’s committed to train in California next year, adding to their already stellar team which finished third at this year’s NCAA Championships. Following her verbal commitment in the fall of 2013, Thomas has shown fast in-season swims at meets such as the Canada Cup, the Austin Grand Prix, and the BC Open.
“At meets I’ve been going a 58-mid average in heavy training,” Thomas said. Considering that her best time in the 100m fly is a 57.96 set back in June of 2013, the consistent times in heavy training make it look as though Thomas will be a lot faster when fully tapered.
She’s swam two long course meets since worlds, and at both her times have been fairly consistent. She won the 100 fly at the Austin Grand Prix posting a 58.54, and picked up a bronze in the 200m fly with a 2:13.04. Later on at the BC Open Thomas swam a 58.67 100 fly and a 2:11.59 200 fly.
“Just to be that close to my best time in heavy training makes me pretty confident about my 200 fly,” Thomas said. Since last season Thomas has been putting a little more focus on her 200m fly than ever before and her results are showing that. Her time from the BC Open currently ranks her 13th in the world, just behind her butterfly rival Katerine Savard who’s ranked ninth.
When asked about what she’s been doing in practice Thomas said, “lots of four 50’s pace. Descending all four on short rest.” Whatever she’s doing, it’s very clear that it’s working. Thomas is hoping to dip under 2:10 at trials which would put her in the top eight of the world rankings.
The 100m fly however is her speciality, and in that event she’ll have her hands full with Savard. Savard has also been fairly consistent with her 100’s this season, posting a 58.50 at the Orlando Grand Prix. Savard is the Canadian record holder after swimming a 57.31 at Worlds last year, a mark that could very well go down if these two continue to battle it out to the wall.
Look for Thomas to be swimming in the 50,100, and 200 flys this week at trials.
A little more on Noemie Thomas:
Favorite hockey team- Vancouver Canucks (although she’s fairly unhappy that they ended up trading Luongo)
Typical Pre-Meet dinner- Pasta and salad
Typical Prelims Breakfast- Apple cinnamon instant oatmeal
Place she hopes to travel to– Greece
Guilty Pleasure: Thomas says that she has a sweet tooth. She’s currently got a system where any time she feels the urge to eat anything sweet she has to write it down, put it in a jar, and after trials she can take out a few things she’s written down from the jar and go buy them (good deal if you ask me).