https://youtu.be/EDwkJz1KCNs

Night 5 continued to bring surprises in Omaha, both elating and devastating. We saw 2 US Open records from Hali Flickinger (200 fly) and Caeleb Dressel (100 free) as well as Michael Andrew become the #3 American all-time in the 200 IM. We also saw Nic Fink qualify for his first Olympic team after narrowly missing out in the 100 breast as he took a dominating win in the 200 at 2:07.55.

On the flipside, in the women's 100 free, we saw defending Olympic and world champion Simone Manuel place 9th, missing out on the final. She would later explain in an emotional press conference that she was diagnosed with Overtraining Syndrome in March and her training has been radically different since in order to accommodate this. We also saw Will Licon placed 3rd in the 200 breast by a razor-thin margin for the 2nd trials in a row, leaving him off the team.

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We sat down with SwimSwam's Editor-in-Chief Braden Keith and  SwimSwam senior writer Jared Anderson to break down the biggest races of the 2021 US Olympic Trials. We dive deep into the men's 200 IM, men's 100 free, women's 100 fly and who we think may surprise us in Omaha.

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Music: Otis McDonald

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Music: Otis McDonald

Olympic swimming champion Caeleb Dressel  is flesh and bone, and he battles nervousness like everyone else. Dressel shares insights into his experience on the run-up to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and other major qualifying meets. He clearly has made peace with the mental tension learning how to manage it.

Recently Dressel notched fast swims at the Atlanta Classic signaling he is on course for a great U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

Dressel Atlanta Classic Times:

• 50 free  - 21.82

DRESSEL PREDICTIONS FOR U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS, VERSION THREE

Yes, I am playing the Dressel prediction game again for a third time, because it's fun.  See version 3, dialed in slightly more after a lot of hand-wringing (and reviewing more comments from fans):

• 50 free - 21.19

But who cares what I think? It is all about  what you think. Give me your best swimming analysis.

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Music: Otis McDonald

The 2021 Olympic Trials Wave I wrapped up in Omaha on Monday, with a whopping 15 athletes earning new qualifications for Wave II, by placing Top 2 in their event. From the 50 free to the 1500, there were exciting races on both the men's and women's side, with the last race of the meet, the men's 1500, coming down to the final meter.

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Music: Otis McDonald

We sat down with 11-time Olympic medalist and International Swimmers' Alliance Manager Matt Biondi. Today marks the launch of the International Swimmers’ Alliance (ISA), an independent organization established by athletes, for athletes that aims to fight for swimmers’ rights and provide them with an independent global voice.

Formed in response to the calls from professional swimmers worldwide for independent representation, the International Swimmers’ Alliance has a goal to improve personal and economic opportunities for all elite swimmers by elevating the sport into the modern era.

The 10-member Board includes 6 currently active competitive swimmers elected by the swimming members. They are:

• Lia Neal (USA)

All swimming members have either a top 20 individual LCM world ranking or are under contract with an ISL team.

Visit the ISA's website here: https://www.internationalswimmersalliance.org/about

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Music: Otis McDonald

We saw 10 new swimmers punch their tickets to Wave II Trials next week on night 3 of Wave I, while 2 swimmers earned themselves second events in Omaha next week. The energy was still electric in the stadium and the races themselves, especially the 400 free and 200 back, were all about strategy and who could edge out the gutsiest finish.

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Night 2 of racing at the 2021 Wave I Olympic Trials saw many more Wave II cuts from high schoolers and college swimmers alike, with 9 total Wave II cuts in the finals session. We saw names from last night such as Autumn Haebig, Patrick Sammon and Katie Trace place 2nd in events while new names came to the forefront in the form of Kate McCarville, Malia Rausch, and Liam Bresette.

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Day 1 of the 2021 Olympic Trials Wave I saw a lot of swimmers take advantage of their second swims. 10 swimmers achieved Wave II cuts tonight, up from just 2 in prelims. We go through and give you some of my highlight swims from the first finals session, many of which were from 18-unders. Stay tuned every morning for a recap of the night before and new swimmers to watch for at Wave II.

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