By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
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2024 Paris Olympian for the US Luke Whitlock will return to his club team, Fishers Area Swimming Tigers to train during the spring semester. Whitlock arrived at Florida this fall for his freshman season.
“I have decide that I will be training at Fishers for the second semester of this year and through next summer and my focus will be to try to make the long course worlds team this summer”
Whitlock originally committed to Louisville before flipping his commitment to Florida before the start of his senior year of high school. He saw huge improvement during his senior year, leading the class of 2024 in the 1000 and 1650 freestyles. He entered this fall as the #8 ranked recruit in the class.
In addition to his short course improvement, Whitlock also had a huge summer highlighted by making the US Olympic Team. Whitlock swam to a 2nd place finish at US Trials in the 800 freestyle, finishing behind Bobby Finke in a new 17-18 NAG Record. Whitlock also became the youngest male to make the US Olympic roster since Michael Phelps at the time.
Whitlock swam to a 15th place finish in prelims of the men’s 800 free in Paris as he touched in a 7:49.26. His best time of a 7:45.19 from US Trials would have finished 9th, about half a second off what it took to make the final. Whitlock was one of numerous Olympic swimmers to test positive for COVID-19 while in Paris.
Whitlock’s Time Progression
| Best Time At Florida | Heading Into Florida |
When Committed To Louisville
|
|
| 200 free | 1:41.44 (dual meet) | 1:37.17 | 1:43.20 |
| 500 free | 4:17.87 | 4:15.76 | 4:31.43 |
| 1650 free | 14:49.90 | 14:50.37 | 15:23.55 |
Whitlock was about two seconds off of his best time in the 500 free at midseason and dropped almost half of a second in the 1650 freestyle.
The Florida men finished 3rd at 2024 NCAAs and are still in the run for an NCAA title. Whitlock sat at #2 in the 1650 free and #5 in the 500 free on the Florida roster so far this season. Gio Linscheer leads the team with a 4:15.04 500 free and a 14:45.25 1650 free.
Whitlock is the latest swimmer that has announced they will return home to train with their club team. Aaron Shackell also made the US Olympic roster this summer, swimming the 400 freestyle, and will return to Carmel, Indiana after training with Texas this fall.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: US Olympian Luke Whitlock Returning To Fishers For Spring Semester After Fall At Florida
