Regardless of not being fairly at her finest, Abbey Weitzeil punched her ticket to a 3rd straight Olympic Video games on the U.S. Trials final month in Indianapolis.
The 27-year-old positioned fifth within the ladies’s 100 freestyle, incomes her a nod on the U.S. ladies’s 400 free relay in Paris, and she or he additionally neared qualifying individually within the 50 free, putting third.
Talking with California outlet Metropolis Information Service, Weitzeil admitted that she felt a bit ‘off’ on the Trials, and revealed she examined constructive for COVID-19 after the meet.
“I used to be somewhat drained. I don’t need that to be a headline, that she had COVID on the Olympic Trials,” Weitzeil mentioned. “I came upon after I had examined constructive for COVID after I received residence. I believe I had COVID on the meet.”
Within the 100 free, Weitzeil received slower by way of every of the three rounds, clocking 53.56 within the prelims, 53.66 within the semis and 53.70 within the last—all shy of the season-best 53.53 she set on the U.S. Open in December.
“I used to be going by way of quite a bit. I used to be actually drained and I didn’t know why,” she mentioned.
Within the 50 free, the previous Cal Golden Bear rebounded with a stable displaying within the last, touching in 24.26 to set a brand new season-best after having gone 24.27 on the San Antonio Professional Swim in April.
Final yr, Weitzeil was on career-best type on the U.S. Nationwide Championships, setting lifetime bests of 24.00 within the 50 free and 52.92 within the 100 free, qualifying to swim each races on the 2023 World Championships the place she completed 4th and sixth, respectively.
Her occasions from the 2023 Nationals would’ve been quick sufficient to qualify individually on the Olympic Trials. Simone Manuel (24.13) and Gretchen Walsh (24.15) went 1-2 within the 50 free, whereas Kate Douglass (52.56) and Torri Huske (52.93) positioned 1st and 2nd within the 100 free.
A four-time Olympic medalist, Weitzeil not too long ago informed Metropolis Information Service she not had signs and can journey with Crew USA to coaching camp in Croatia after they wrapped up the primary stage of their Olympic prep in Cary, North Carolina.
Weitzeil admitted she was emotional watching the Olympic Trials this yr, driving the highs and lows of probably the most pressure-packed meet on Earth.
“I used to be crying completely happy tears, crying unhappy tears for individuals,” she mentioned. “It was an amazing, nice meet to look at and really feel these completely happy feelings and likewise only a demanding time.
“It was onerous however I’m tremendous completely happy.”
One of many veteran members of the U.S. roster, Weitzeil mentioned she is embracing her new position on the Olympic group.
“I’ve a special position than I’m used to having on Crew USA. I believe I’m simply grateful to be a part of it.”
Heading to Paris having gained a medal within the ladies’s 400 free and 400 medley relays in each Rio and Tokyo, Weitzeil will certainly race the prelims of the 400 free relay on the Video games, and a quick cut up there may result in extra alternatives all through the meet.
