Tom Shields and Natalie Coughlin are two of the most incredible underwater swimmers in the history of this great sport that we all love, and on Friday during the Cal-USC dual meet, the Cal post-grads swam an exhibition race in the 100 yard backstroke.
SwimSwam’s Coleman Hodges was there to capture the race that saw Shields swim 49.36 and Coughlin swim a 51.44.
The noteworthy race there is Coughlin’s, which is the fastest she’s been in over 3 years – since November of 2011. Coughlin had given up the 100 backstroke in all courses over the last few years, but has started to pick the race back up again, and this swim is one more data point that shows so-far, so-good in her return to the event that made her famous.
For a full recap of the main-stage Cal-USC NCAA dual from Karl Ortegon, click here.
I guess I am just too old; but when I competed you could not do the majority of your event underwater. I still think Roland Mathis is the alt time great at this event.
Love the female voice in the background calling out the announcer.
lol I’m pretty sure she was catching him above water
Will someone break finally one day Natalie’s legendary 100 back American and NCAA record?
49.97 in 2002!
We need a girl with amazing underwaters to do it.
Bootsma and Bartholomew have swum very close to that record and are probably the 2 girls who can do it in the coming years.
That’s really amazing to see that record still alive 13 years later.
Natalie was so ahead of her time in the early 2000s.
It would be awesome if Natalie broke it herself first. 51.44 in a mid-season exhibition, where she’s basically swimming by herself, is a pretty huge swim.
It would be a big embarrassment for the new generation if she’s the girl who breaks it first.
What were the times? Shields with a 49? 45? Coughlin with a 51?
Speaking of Nat Coughlin early 2000’s, I’ve never been able to find video of some of her most legendary swims! 100 back @ ft. lauderdale ’02 1st under a minute. all events at ’02 ncaas. etc. anyone know where these gems are hiding?
Pretty much just can’t see Shields at all. Which is awesome.