Wild & Crazy: The History of the Women’s 100 Yard Backstroke
History has proven that the women’s 100 yard backstroke is an event where wacky, unexpected results are the norm, whether because of the typical depth of field, the format of the meet, the factors of the race or some other reason entirely.
In March of 2002, Natalie Coughlin became the first woman ever to swim the 100 yard backstroke in under 50 seconds. Before that, no one had ever swum within two-and-a-half seconds of her 49.97…and for 10 more years, no one even came close.
After Coughlin had won consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100 meter back in 2004 and 2008, Missy Franklin followed in those footsteps with gold in 2012, breaking Coughlin’s long course American record in the process.
But when Franklin followed Coughlin to Cal-Berkeley in 2013, she stayed away from the yards version of the 100 back. The decision was strategic: Franklin would swim the 200 yard free instead at the NCAA Championships (winning the event during each of her two seasons with the Golden Bears), and Cal already had on its roster a stud 100 backstroker by the name of Rachel Bootsma.
And it’s with Bootsma, a Minneapolis native and 2012 Olympian, that our recent history of the 100 back begins…
To learn more about the history of the Women’s 100y backstroke, check out the February 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now! Swimming World subscribers can download this issue in the Swimming World Vault!
[PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]
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FEATURES
018 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH JOSH PRENOT
by Annie Grevers
023 HISTORIC SWIMMING FIRSTS IN BLACK HISTORY
by Bruce Wigo
In recognition of Black History Month, which is celebrated in the United States in February, Swimming World takes a look at some historic accomplishments in swimming turned in by athletes of African descent.
025 WILD AND CRAZY
by David Rieder
History has proven that the women’s 100 yard backstroke is an event where wacky, unexpected results are the norm, whether because of the typical depth of field, the format of the meet, the factors of the race or some other reason entirely.
026 BACK ON TOP
by David Rieder
Beata Nelson, a high school record holder in the 100 yard fly and Swimming World’s 2016 Female High School Swimmer of the Year, once considered backstroke her secondary stroke. But after clocking a 49.67 last November, the University of Wisconsin junior is now the American record holder in the 100 yard backstroke.
028 ALL IN THE FAMILY
by Dan D’Addona
It was a moment that didn’t become real until they embraced. Arkansas freshman diver Brooke Schultz had just won the NCAA championship in 3-meter diving and stood, half in shock, on the podium, and accepted the championship trophy from her coach. But it wasn’t just her coach—it was her father, Dale Schultz.
030 NUTRITION: AROUND THE TABLE WITH JUSTIN WRIGHT
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: DON LAMONT
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR TECHNIQUE: PART 6—ENVIRONMENTAL BASE OF SUPPORT FOR BUTTERFLY
by Rod Havriluk
To swim butterfly as fast as possible, a swimmer must first optimize the body base of support (by minimizing vertical movement of the shoulder) and then position the hand to gain the most stability from a relatively unstable environmental BOS. With a stable body BOS, a swimmer can more precisely control the hand pitch and hand path to achieve a more effective hand position in the environmental BOS, maximum propulsion and the fastest swimming velocity.
016 INSPIRING SWIMMERS…AND TESTING LIMITS (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
Once swimmers are inspired to complete a difficult task, the resulting action often involves a test of
one’s limits. In this two-part series, four veteran coaches share insights on how they motivate the athletes entrusted to their care. Swimming World’s January issue featured Gregg Troy and Jessica O’Donnell, while Catherine Vogt and Richard Hunter continue the discussion in February.
040 SPECIAL SETS: GETTING IT ON—A RECIPE FOR POWER AND PRECISION
by Michael J. Stott
Megan Oesting, owner and head coach of the Eastern Iowa Swim Federation, provides two sample sets that her Eastern Iowa Swim Federation age groupers do to help prepare them for competition.
042 Q&A WITH COACH JOSH CHRISTENSEN
by Michael J. Stott
043 HOW THEY TRAIN: LAURA FORNSHELL
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: EXERCISE EQUIPMENT SERIES—STRETCH CORDS
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
020 GOLDMINDS: POSITIVE PARENT POINTERS (Part 2)
by Wayne Goldsmith
The January issue of Swimming World featured #s 1-15 of 30 things that swimming parents can do to help their child realize his or her potential—as swimmers…and as human beings. This month’s magazine gives you the rest of the list: #s 16-30.
046 UP & COMERS: JUSTINA KOZAN
by Taylor Brien
COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
022 DID YOU KNOW? MARJORIE GESTRING
033 2019 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY
047 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT
ON THE COVER
Not many parents have the opportunity to coach their children at the elite level, so it was extra special when University of Arkansas diving coach Dale Schultz was able to present his daughter, Brooke, the trophy for winning the 3-meter diving title at last year’s NCAAs. Brooke, now a sophomore, is a three-time senior national champion as well as a gold medalist at the 2017 Junior Pan Ams and 2014 Junior Worlds as well as a silver medalist at the 2017 World University Games. After this year’s NCAAs, she hopes to qualify for her second World Championship team, with her biggest goal looming on the horizon: the 2020 Olympics. (See feature, page 28.)[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]