TYR to be Well-Represented at 2009 World Championships

The 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Team Trials in Indianapolis, IN kept getting better for TYR swimmers and coaches each night, ending Saturday evening on a high note. Amanda Weir added yet another individual race to her list for the championships in Rome, Italy, while coach Bill Rose of the Mission Viejo Nadadores was selected by USA Swimming to join the team’s coaching staff. In the finals of the women’s 100m freestyle, Weir was introduced to the crowded stands as the championship record holder in the event. When the start went off, Weir was out to prove she was still one of the fastest females in the event. Flipping at the 50m mark,Weir was sixth splitting a 26.27. Despite the deficit, she came from behind to have the fastest back-end leg (27.76) to touch second in 54.03. Weir recognized the lack of speed against the competitive field in the first half of the race, and will look to show her true talent in Rome. “I know I can do a lot better in there in the hundred,” Weir shared. “I was a bit rocky tonight, and I definitely think I have a lot of room for improvement which is a good thing.” With the completion of tonight’s race, Weir will compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle as well as the 400m freestyle relay and 400m medley relay at the championships. “I have never done that much swimming at worlds before so it should be fun,” she said ”I am really excited for a chance to prove myself again and get back up there on top.” The other highlight of the evening was the announcement of adding TYR’s coach Rose to the 2009 U.S. World Championship coaching staff. Not new to coaching at international competitions, he has been a USA coach for multiple World University Games, Pan American Games, and USA Open Water teams. “I feel absolutely great about being asked to coach for the USA, “said Rose. “The whole key is any time I can be there representing the United States and taking in that kind of atmosphere there is nothing better. That’s the gold medal coaches get. We don’t get anything else. We get that and I win.” Earlier in the day during the preliminaries, TYR’s Matt Grevers had a personal best time in the men’s 200m backstroke wearing the new Tracer Sayonara. Dropping over two seconds and touching in at 1:57.04, he opted to scratch for the finals of the race. Already scheduled to swim the 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle relay, and 400m medley relay, Grevers felt there were already enough events to focus on in Rome. With the conclusion of the national championships, both TYR swimmers and coaches will continue to prepare for competition at the world championships beginning on July 22nd. Make sure to visit TYR.com for all up-to-date recaps on their performances.