Team Santa Monica distance stars Jordan Wilimovsky and Brendan Casey and are both taking a redshirt year to train at home with their club coach, Dave Kelsheimer, in preparation for the 2016 US Olympic Team Trials.
- See the SwimSwam interview with Wilimovsky and Casey
- See the SwimSwam interview with TSM head coach Kelsheimer
Wilimovsky is coming off his junior year at Northwestern University, where he placed third in the 1650 yard freestyle at 2015 NCAA Championships (14:36.64); he swam his fastest-ever mile at the 2015 B1G Championships (14:33.50). In April Wilimovsky was crowned National 10K Champion at USA Swimming’s 2015 Open Water National Championships, thus qualifying for the 2015 FINA World Championships.
Last summer, Wilimovsky took second in the 10K at 2014 Open Water Nationals to earn a bid to the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships. He followed that up with a bronze medal in the 1500m free at 2014 Phillips 66 Nationals. In 2013 Wilimovsky qualified for FINA World Championships with a fourth-place finish in the 10K at 2013 Open Water Nationals. The previous summer he was runner-up in the 5K at 2012 Open Water Nationals and won the 1500m free at 2012 Junior Nationals, setting the meet record in the process (15:23.01)
Wilimovsky’s times progression over this quadrennial has been as follows:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |
| 500y free | 4:14.70 | 4:19.86 | 4:22.57 | 4:28.47 |
| 1650y free | 14:33.50 | 14:42.99 | 14:55.25 | 15:10.75 |
| 400m free | 3:56.04 | 3:59.51 | — | 4:00.24 |
| 1500m free | — | 14:56.34 | 15:31.84 | 15:23.01 |
| 5K open water | — | 55:34.570 | 57:23.24 | 57:53.977 |
| 10K open water | 1:54:27.93 | 1:50:49.364 | 1:56:06.471 | 1:58:45.297 |
Casey finished his freshman year at University of Virginia, where he dropped nearly 27 seconds in the 1650 to place fifth at the 2015 ACC Championships
A member of USA Swimming’s National Junior Team, Casey representing the Red, White, and Blue at 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, competing in the 800m free, 1500m free, and 200m back.
Casey, too, has seen some impressive time drops over the last four years:
| 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |
| 500y free | 4:22.39 | 4:23.72 | 4:27.37 | 4:35.07 |
| 1650y free | 15:05.09 | 15:31.81 | 15:37.32 | 15:54.31 |
| 800m free | — | 8:17.01 | 8:37.20 | 8:46.10 |
| 1500m free | 16:08.30 | 15:35.89 | 16:07.25 | 16:28.67 |
| 5K open water | 57:51.19 | 55:42.747 | 57:25.14 | 59:14.399 |
| 10K open water | 2:00:27.22 | 1:53:42.446 | — | — |
My real question is, how has this strategy fared in the past? Both athletes have improved tremendously under the college system, so why stop now? Furthermore, being at school keeps you balanced, your mind sharp, and your body in check, so when it comes time to taper, you’re even more focused (my best seasons have come after a long stretch of school or work). Any comments on this?
Mr. F, i was thinking the exact same thing. Both 1500 qualifiers in 2012 (Jaeger and Gemmell) were in the midst of college training and did not redshirt to train elsewhere (although Gemmell did redshirt 2010-11).
Could the Olympic red shirt year be used as an avenue to leave one college program for another and use the gap year to continue training at home while searching for a better fit? Casey wouldn’t be the first and may not be the last to leave the Busch led program in Charlottesville to find success somewhere else.
bro, wilimovsky was the national champ in the 10k this year. I’d say he has a “realistic” chance of making the olympic team.
McBroom, Jaeger, several guys ahead of them in college ranks, is this truly a realistic attempt at qualifying?
Are you referring to Casey or Wilmovsky? Because Wilmovsky has a shot to make the olympic team this summer in the 10k and was third I believe last year at nationals in 1500.
the awk moment when one of these swimmers wins world by 10 seconds lol
Coach Dave has done a great job with distance swimmers. Surprised to see more swimmers haven’t moved across to train with him. Expecting big things from Wilimovsky and Casey in the next 14 months
There are still a few other US college swimmers who should do the same and maximise their qualifying chances.
Olympic games is a once a lifetime experience for most of these guys.
s z
maximize
I’m on an American website. 🙂
I had in mind Dressel, Murphy, Conger, Eastin, Manuel, Neal, Bilquist, Seliskar, Pelton, Bentz, Bootsma, Licon, Smith (Clark), Ransford, Haas, Smith (Leah), Vissering, Runge or Baker.