University of Georgia Athletics
Swimming All Over The World
July 21, 2017 | Swimming & Diving, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
No sport is better than another, not fundamentally. But the experiences and opportunities some sports bring — the absolute highest levels of those sports, typically — can be in some ways be superior to others.
Example? Former Georgia superstar swimmer Hali Flickinger, a 14-time All-American, posted a photo to her Instagram account this week of herself, Jay Litherland, Pace Clark, Nic Fink, Melanie Margalis and Georgia swimming and diving coach Jack Bauerle posing a short distance from the Adriatic Sea.
Just a bunch of current or former Bulldogs hanging out in a spectacular spot, while getting ready for the biggest international swim meet of the year.
A 2016 Olympian, Flickinger and the rest of the Georgia and United States squad spent 10 days along the gorgeous coast of Croatia training before heading to the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Flickinger, who as a senior helped lead Georgia to the 2016 NCAA title, has also competed in Australia, Russia and Peru — and many more. At the Rio Olympics last summer she placed seventh in the 200-meter butterfly, the event she'll be racing at the World Championships.
Litherland placed fifth in the 400 individual medley at the Rio Olympics. Like so many elite swimmers, his sport has taken him all over the world. A Japanese-American, Litherland said competing in Japan will likely always be at or near the top of his list of experiences in the sport.
"I'm a little biased because I'm half Japanese, but I think the World Cup when I went to Japan was probably the best," he said before leaving for the U.S. training camp. "I got to see my family and they got to see me race, so I think that was one of the better moments, for sure. The food there definitely suited me really well."
The exposure to different places and cultures that swimming in international competitions is not something that Litherland takes for granted.
"It's amazing. I'm just so spoiled to be able to travel to all these great places," he said. "Even beginning with the junior team, I've been traveling all over the world, like Dubai and Asia and everywhere. I'm really happy and I really respect what I'm able to do. I'm so happy that I get to see all of the cultures around the world."
There will be seven current or former Georgia swimmers competing in the pool in Budapest: Flickinger, Olivia Smoliga, Melanie Margalis, Nic Fink, Litherland, Pace Clark and Chase Kalisz. The Bulldogs' seven on the U.S. squad is more than another other school, plus Bauerle is a men's team assistant coach.
In addition to Georgia's seven in the pool, another former Bulldog, Andrew Gemmell, who swam in the pool during the London Olympics in 2012, placed 17th in the 5,000-meter open water competition last Saturday. This was Gemmell's fourth World Championships.
For Bauerle, who has assistant and head coaching experience with U.S. Olympic and World Championships teams, this will be his fifth World Championships. His first was Fukuoka, Japan, in 2001; next came Barcelona, followed by Montreal and Melbourne.
Get Bauerle going on most any topic and you'll soon feel the passion and energy that infuses most everything he does. When it comes to where his role as one of the top coaches in the world has taken him, Bauerle has much to say.
Asked via text message while he was in Croatia, Bauerle sent a 427-word response (he talks and Siri types). The bottom line: "I truly love the spirit of the people in every place that I've visited. They're all different, but all kind and accommodating and friendly."
The 2000 Olympics in Sydney will always have a special place in Bauerle's heart. It was his first time as an assistant coach for the U.S., and Australia is a country that loves sport and competition, especially swimming.
"I remember at a training camp in Brisbane, I got in a cab and the cab driver knew who I was," he wrote. "They actually knew all the coaches and all the athletes from the U.S."
Another former Georgia swimmer was in action at the World Championships, but not in the pool. Andrew Gemmell, who swam in the pool during the London Olympics in 2012, placed 17th in the 5,000-meter open water competition last Saturday. It was Gemmell's fourth appearance at a World Championships.
Fink has competed in previous World Championships and international meets, but he didn't make it to Rio, placing seventh in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Olympic Trials. At this year's U.S. National Championships, Fink surged at the end of the 200 to take second place and earn a trip to Budapest.
"I trained very hard this year, felt like I had a lot to prove, and I'm glad that it all worked out (at the Trials in Indianapolis)," Fink said. "I had my best times and I'm just happy that I'm in the spot I am right now."
Flickinger feels the same way. She wasn't happy with her performance in Indianapolis, despite winning the 200 butterfly, but before setting off for Croatia she said her training had been much improved.
"I'm moving forward and hopefully I can be a lot faster at Worlds," she said.
A special World Championships in late July could add to a very memorable summer. In late August she's getting married to former Georgia swimmer Martin Grodzki.
So everything's set for the wedding, right?
"Pretty much," she said with not a lot of confidence. "Umm, the big things are done (laughs), but the little, tiny details, they are not done. I think we'll be fine."
One of the little things is the details of the reception: "I'm realizing how hard it is to put tables together. That's a real challenge."
Almost as challenging as becoming one of the top swimmers in the world — one that gets to compete on the biggest stages, in some of the world's greatest cities.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
UGAAA Staff Writer
No sport is better than another, not fundamentally. But the experiences and opportunities some sports bring — the absolute highest levels of those sports, typically — can be in some ways be superior to others.
Example? Former Georgia superstar swimmer Hali Flickinger, a 14-time All-American, posted a photo to her Instagram account this week of herself, Jay Litherland, Pace Clark, Nic Fink, Melanie Margalis and Georgia swimming and diving coach Jack Bauerle posing a short distance from the Adriatic Sea.
Just a bunch of current or former Bulldogs hanging out in a spectacular spot, while getting ready for the biggest international swim meet of the year.
A 2016 Olympian, Flickinger and the rest of the Georgia and United States squad spent 10 days along the gorgeous coast of Croatia training before heading to the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Flickinger, who as a senior helped lead Georgia to the 2016 NCAA title, has also competed in Australia, Russia and Peru — and many more. At the Rio Olympics last summer she placed seventh in the 200-meter butterfly, the event she'll be racing at the World Championships.
Litherland placed fifth in the 400 individual medley at the Rio Olympics. Like so many elite swimmers, his sport has taken him all over the world. A Japanese-American, Litherland said competing in Japan will likely always be at or near the top of his list of experiences in the sport.
"I'm a little biased because I'm half Japanese, but I think the World Cup when I went to Japan was probably the best," he said before leaving for the U.S. training camp. "I got to see my family and they got to see me race, so I think that was one of the better moments, for sure. The food there definitely suited me really well."
The exposure to different places and cultures that swimming in international competitions is not something that Litherland takes for granted.
"It's amazing. I'm just so spoiled to be able to travel to all these great places," he said. "Even beginning with the junior team, I've been traveling all over the world, like Dubai and Asia and everywhere. I'm really happy and I really respect what I'm able to do. I'm so happy that I get to see all of the cultures around the world."
There will be seven current or former Georgia swimmers competing in the pool in Budapest: Flickinger, Olivia Smoliga, Melanie Margalis, Nic Fink, Litherland, Pace Clark and Chase Kalisz. The Bulldogs' seven on the U.S. squad is more than another other school, plus Bauerle is a men's team assistant coach.
In addition to Georgia's seven in the pool, another former Bulldog, Andrew Gemmell, who swam in the pool during the London Olympics in 2012, placed 17th in the 5,000-meter open water competition last Saturday. This was Gemmell's fourth World Championships.
For Bauerle, who has assistant and head coaching experience with U.S. Olympic and World Championships teams, this will be his fifth World Championships. His first was Fukuoka, Japan, in 2001; next came Barcelona, followed by Montreal and Melbourne.
Get Bauerle going on most any topic and you'll soon feel the passion and energy that infuses most everything he does. When it comes to where his role as one of the top coaches in the world has taken him, Bauerle has much to say.
Asked via text message while he was in Croatia, Bauerle sent a 427-word response (he talks and Siri types). The bottom line: "I truly love the spirit of the people in every place that I've visited. They're all different, but all kind and accommodating and friendly."
The 2000 Olympics in Sydney will always have a special place in Bauerle's heart. It was his first time as an assistant coach for the U.S., and Australia is a country that loves sport and competition, especially swimming.
"I remember at a training camp in Brisbane, I got in a cab and the cab driver knew who I was," he wrote. "They actually knew all the coaches and all the athletes from the U.S."
Another former Georgia swimmer was in action at the World Championships, but not in the pool. Andrew Gemmell, who swam in the pool during the London Olympics in 2012, placed 17th in the 5,000-meter open water competition last Saturday. It was Gemmell's fourth appearance at a World Championships.
Fink has competed in previous World Championships and international meets, but he didn't make it to Rio, placing seventh in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Olympic Trials. At this year's U.S. National Championships, Fink surged at the end of the 200 to take second place and earn a trip to Budapest.
"I trained very hard this year, felt like I had a lot to prove, and I'm glad that it all worked out (at the Trials in Indianapolis)," Fink said. "I had my best times and I'm just happy that I'm in the spot I am right now."
Flickinger feels the same way. She wasn't happy with her performance in Indianapolis, despite winning the 200 butterfly, but before setting off for Croatia she said her training had been much improved.
"I'm moving forward and hopefully I can be a lot faster at Worlds," she said.
A special World Championships in late July could add to a very memorable summer. In late August she's getting married to former Georgia swimmer Martin Grodzki.
So everything's set for the wedding, right?
"Pretty much," she said with not a lot of confidence. "Umm, the big things are done (laughs), but the little, tiny details, they are not done. I think we'll be fine."
One of the little things is the details of the reception: "I'm realizing how hard it is to put tables together. That's a real challenge."
Almost as challenging as becoming one of the top swimmers in the world — one that gets to compete on the biggest stages, in some of the world's greatest cities.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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