He's the youngest US swimmer to go pro. Phelps was 15 when he went pro, but at that point he was already an Olympian.
swimswam.com/.../swimswam.com/.../
the big problem is that for as good as he is an an age group swimmer, he is not on the big scene yet.
and by that i mean he hasn't been to USNats. it is a bit different to be NAGR and such than it is to walk into the ready room of the finals of your event and look around the room and go...."hmmm that's the current world record holder right there and next to him is the former world record holder. and both are my idols. and i am racing against them in about 10min in the finals."
the kid says he likes pressure, he hasnt had any pressure. he may now that mom and dad are riding his coattails.
its very clear the kid won the genetic lotto. 6'4" at turning 14. holy growth spurts batman! sure he will improve, but its not so easy to make that top 16 and more so the top 8 at USNats. all of the men this boy will be racing against are just as big if not bigger, have more muscle, and some have as many years of experience at that level as he is years old. 3 old men from my city just swam at a tuneup meet this last weekend in the events he's in. the 49.55 by RickyB and 50.25 by DaxH and even the 50.69 by GarrettWG. right there is 3 of the 7 that can make a team. the kid (as good as he is and i wish him the best) has a ways to go!
the big problem is that for as good as he is an an age group swimmer, he is not on the big scene yet.
and by that i mean he hasn't been to USNats. it is a bit different to be NAGR and such than it is to walk into the ready room of the finals of your event and look around the room and go...."hmmm that's the current world record holder right there and next to him is the former world record holder. and both are my idols. and i am racing against them in about 10min in the finals."
the kid says he likes pressure, he hasnt had any pressure. he may now that mom and dad are riding his coattails.
its very clear the kid won the genetic lotto. 6'4" at turning 14. holy growth spurts batman! sure he will improve, but its not so easy to make that top 16 and more so the top 8 at USNats. all of the men this boy will be racing against are just as big if not bigger, have more muscle, and some have as many years of experience at that level as he is years old. 3 old men from my city just swam at a tuneup meet this last weekend in the events he's in. the 49.55 by RickyB and 50.25 by DaxH and even the 50.69 by GarrettWG. right there is 3 of the 7 that can make a team. the kid (as good as he is and i wish him the best) has a ways to go!
