USA Swimming’s 2015 AT&T Winter National Championships set for Dec. 3-5

A number of Olympic champions, including Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.), Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) and hometown favorite Nathan Adrian (Bremerton, Wash.), are expected to highlight the field at number of Olympic champions, including Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.), Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) and hometown favorite Nathan Adrian (Bremerton, Wash.), are expected to highlight the field at USA Swimming’s 2015 AT&T Winter National Championships, set for Dec. 3-5 at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Tickets are on sale now for the three-day event, which consists of daily prelims at 9 a.m. PT and finals at 6 p.m. PT, on Thursday, Dec. 3 through Saturday, Dec. 5. Tickets can be purchased online now with all-session passes costing $60 for adults and $45 for children 12 and under. Single-day and single-session tickets also are available.
In addition to Adrian, Franklin and Phelps, fellow individual Olympic gold medalists Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.), Anthony Ervin (Valencia, Calif.), Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.) also are expected to compete in Federal Way.
In total, more than 40 USA Swimming National Team members are among the approximately 700 swimmers slated to swim at AT&T Winter Nationals.
A live webcast of the entire meet will be available via usaswimming.org, and NBC will televise action from AT&T Winter Nationals on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1-2 p.m. ET. A full order of events for the long-course meters competition is available at usaswimming.o, set for Dec. 3-5 at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Tickets are on sale now for the three-day event, which consists of daily prelims at 9 a.m. PT and finals at 6 p.m. PT, on Thursday, Dec. 3 through Saturday, Dec. 5. Tickets can be purchased online now with all-session passes costing $60 for adults and $45 for children 12 and under. Single-day and single-session tickets also are available.

In addition to Adrian, Franklin and Phelps, fellow individual Olympic gold medalists Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.), Anthony Ervin (Valencia, Calif.), Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.) also are expected to compete in Federal Way.

In total, more than 40 USA Swimming National Team members are among the approximately 700 swimmers slated to swim at AT&T Winter Nationals.

A live webcast of the entire meet will be available via usaswimming.org, and NBC will televise action from AT&T Winter Nationals on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1-2 p.m. ET. A full order of events for the long-course meters competition is available at.

Natalie Coughlin: The Perfect Swimming Idol

When asked who my favorite swimmer was when I was little, with no hesitation, I would answer Natalie Coughlin.

She’s strong. She’s powerful. She’s fast.

She has been one of America’s leading female swimmers for years now. She qualified for every event at summer nationals when she was 16 years old. She was the first woman to break a minute in the 100m backstroke. Not only has she embraced and helped the sport of swimming evolve, she has also given back to the sport and been a strong and powerful leader for young swimmers to look up to.

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Coughlin, born in Vallejo, California, started swimming at a very young age. Dedication, passion, and success in the sport allowed her to continue her career at the University of California-Berkeley. At Cal, she won 12 NCAA titles. Today, she still has her name on the record board in multiple events including both backstroke and butterfly races, and the 100 freestyle.

In addition to her decorated college career, Coughlin has had much success internationally and while representing Team USA. Her list of accomplishments is quite lengthy. To cover a few, she won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the 2004 AND 2008 Olympic Games. In 2010, at the Pan Pacific Championships, she won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle and contributed to the first place finish of the 400m freestyle relay. At World Championships in 2013, Coughlin aided in the success and victory of the 400m freestyle relay once again.

However, when I look at Coughlin, I don’t focus solely on her swimming accomplishments. I believe Coughlin is more than a swimming idol. She’s an inspiration to young girls through her body confidence. She promotes a healthy lifestyle. She shows the world that she loves swimming but she also has other interests too– an important concept for all swimmers to understand.

Photo Courtesy: JD Lasica

Coughlin addressed “body image” in an interview with ESPN magazine. She noted that, “There were times when I wasn’t happy with my body, but I always knew that I was really fit and that it was what allowed me to be successful in the pool.”

Embracing her body allowed her for more success in the pool. This is a hard concept for many female athletes to understand. However, Coughlin’s confidence and ability to discuss the topic has encouraged many other swimmers to do so too. Coughlin has successfully shown young athletes that a healthy body is the best type of body by voicing her interest of food and a healthy cooking.

Follow her on social media and you’ll see how much she loves her food! In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Coughlin expressed that she “took a cooking class and started reading food magazines and books and watching food shows on TV.” She grows a lot of her vegetables at home and makes nutritious meals to fuel her body. Natalie Coughlin has used her hobby and love of cooking to become more successful in swimming. She has shown young swimmers the importance of eating right.

Outside of swimming and training, Coughlin also gives back to communities and causes she feels strongly about.  Her involvement with charities such as  the David Andrew “Pooh” Foundation,  Right to Play, and the Edible Schoolyard Project show her generosity. Coughlin’s ability to support charities and be an influence on others in and out of the pool makes her a great role model. She’s not just an idol swimmer, she’s more. Her speed and success made her my favorite swimmer when I was little. The positivity and energy that radiates from her in everything she does explains why she is still my favorite swimmer to this day.

Coughlin could retire from the sport of swimming at any point and still be considered one of the best swimmers in history. However, she continues to train and continues to inspire young athletes.

Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine

Cal Swimming Well Represented on 2015-16 Team USA Roster

BERKELEY - Team USA should have a decidedly blue and gold tone to it as the 2016 Rio Olympics draw nearer with Tuesday's announcement that 16 swimmers with Cal ties will be included on the U.S. 2015-16 National Team roster.

On the men's side, 2015 NCAA and Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year Ryan Murphy leads a four-man contingent of current Bears on the team, making the squad in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke. Senior Josh Prenot, a three-time Pac-12 champion in the 400 individual medley, is listed for the 200 breaststroke as well as the 200 and 400 individual medley, while fellow senior Jacob Pebley made the team in the 200 backstroke. One of the newest Bears, freshman Andrew Seliskar, landed a spot in both the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley.

Joining the current Bears on Team USA's roster is a quartet of alums that certainly doesn't lack for international recognition. Gold medalists Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin are back, with Adrian in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle and Ervin in the 50 freestyle. Fellow Bear alums Tom Shields (100 and 200 butterfly) and Will Copeland (100 freestyle) also made the list, which is achieved by a swimmer ranking in the top six in the United States in events from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10.

For the women, three of Team USA's most familiar stars will bring their Berkeley ties back for another run at Olympic hardware. 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin is on the roster once again in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 backstroke as she points toward a trip to Rio.

By her side will be three other alumnae, including four-time gold medalist Missy Franklin, the reigning NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year and Honda Cup winner as the nation's top female student-athlete. She’s listed in the 100 and 200 freestyle as well as the 100 and 200 backstroke and is one of only three swimmers to earn a spot in four events.

Another former Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year will also join the team as Caitlin Leverenz secured a roster spot in both the 200 and 400 individual medley. Leverenz won bronze in the 200 IM at the London Olympics. In addition, Madison Kennedy gained a place on the list in the 50 free. Cierra Runge, a freshman for the Bears last season who is taking this year off from school to train for the Olympics, made the team in the 400 freestyle.

The Bears have much to be excited about when it comes to the future as well, with three incoming freshmen also on Team USA's roster – Kathleen Baker (100 backstroke, 200 IM), Amy Bilquist (50 freestyle), and Katie McLaughlin (200 freestyle, 100/200 butterfly).

NATALIE COUGHLIN OPEN TO ADDING 100 BACK TO OLYMPIC TRIALS LINEUP

Natalie Coughlin won her 60th international medal Saturday night leading off the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, coming close to her personal best in the 100 back.

At the touch Coughlin was a 59.05 which is the fastest she’s been since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It’s also the fastest she’s been in her career in the event outside of the 2008 Olympic Trials and 2008 Olympic Games. With her best time sitting at 58.94, she was just just 11 one-hundredths of a second off her most impressive result.

“I knew that I could be close to my best in the 100 back,” said Coughlin.

Prior to this, the first woman to ever go under one-minute in the 100m backstroke hasn’t swam a fully rested 100m backstroke since the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China.

“I was really excited to [swim the 100m backstroke] because with the pro series format, the 50 free was always right before or right after the 100 back so I was never really able to swim it this season.”

In the last chapter of Coughlin’s storied career she dropped the 100m backstroke from her schedule in order to focus on the 50 and 100m freestyles. Slowly but surely, Coughlin is growing more and more open to adding the backstroke to her program once more, “as long as it doesn’t overlap with any other events I would love to add it to the format,” said Coughlin.

Coughlin is gaining momentum as she heads towards the 2016 U.S Olympic Trials where she will attempt to qualify for her fourth Olympic team. There, she’s not shying away from the thoughts of once again racing the 100m backstroke, and possibly going after a third 100 back Olympic gold, “In the Olympic format 100 back, 100 free, 50 free, that plays out pretty nicely.”

After a 53.85 100 freestyle that was the fastest Coughlin has been since 2010, and a 24.66 personal best in her 50m freestyle, Coughlin’s focus will still be the sprint free events heading into 2016.

“I will still continue to focus on freestyle, mainly the 100, but also train backstroke and hopefully race it more.”

Luvo Announces World Champion Swimmer Natalie Coughlin as Brand Ambassador

The Luvo Company Welcomes One of the Most Decorated Female Olympians of All-time and Food Enthusiast to the Team, Natalie Coughlin

Luvo Inc., a forward-thinking frozen food company that offers chef-inspired, nutritionist-approved meals made from high quality ingredients, announced today that World Champion and Olympic gold medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin has joined the team as the company’s newest brand ambassador.

A 12-time Olympic medalist and 20-time World Championship medalist, Coughlin is an avid believer in the importance of healthy foods and active lifestyles. Coughlin will support Luvo in its mission to bring consumers affordable, nutritious frozen meals made from wholesome ingredients that taste great and provide energy for wherever life’s adventures may lead.

“Proper nutrition is one of the most important elements to achieving peak performance, not only in athletic competition but in life. However, I know from years on the road in collegiate and professional swimming that the healthy choice is not always easy to find, or the one you have time to make,” said Coughlin. “That’s why I’m thrilled to be working with Luvo, to educate people on the benefits of healthy eating and provide them with meal options that have compelling flavors, don’t skip on nutrition, and are ready to eat within minutes.”

Coughlin, 33, is the most decorated female swimmer in World Championships history and is one medal shy of becoming the most decorated American female Olympic athlete in history. Coughlin is featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s 2015 Body Issue which hit newsstands this July, discussing her record setting career, focus on nutrition and eating quality foods, and training to continue to compete at the highest level. At the Pan American Games, Coughlin took home four medals, set two meet records and posted two top-10 times in the world this year.

While Coughlin has become a household name from her performance in the pool, she has also been a champion for promoting the importance of living an active lifestyle, and works with organizations or has been on the board of Right to Play, Edible Schoolyard, MOVE and Women’s Sports Foundation. Coughlin also has a love for cooking, having competed on the Food Network’s Chopped, prepared some of her favorite recipes on the Today Show and Rachel Ray and served as a guest judge on Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event.

“From her record-setting swimming career, it was clear that Natalie shares the same drive to reach new goals, as we do here at Luvo. But it was her genuine joy for cooking and understanding of the importance of nutrition to fuel our bodies, that made this relationship such a perfect fit,” said Christine Day, Chief Executive Officer at Luvo. “We are honored to welcome Natalie to our team and look forward to working together to inspire a movement, for better health, better taste and better lives.”

Coughlin joins an elite team of brand ambassadors. Led by Brand Development Officer, Derek Jeter, as well as recently announced ambassador Russell Wilson, quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, Luvo’s ambassador program isn’t your average sponsorship deal. Jeter, Wilson and now Coughlin are all investors in the Company and believe in its commitment to make nutritious and delicious food accessible to everyone.

Luvo offers a wide range of globally inspired entrees, pizzas, and burritos at major retailers throughout the nation, including Haggen, ShopRite, Kroger, Meijer, HEB, Publix, Safeway and more. Luvo is also available on select Delta Air Lines flights and online at Amazon.com. For more information on where to buy Luvo in your local area please visit: luvoinc.com/where-to-buy.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us atnewsmaster@swimmingworld.

Yes, frozen TV dinners can be healthy, says swimmer Natalie Coughlin

The Olympian is the latest athlete to endorse Luvo, a company that promises to make frozen entrees healthy.

Professional swimmer Natalie Coughlin has a no-nonsense approach when it comes to her Olympic-level diet: avoid anything extreme. Eat fresh foods and while you are at it, perhaps try some frozen food made by Luvo.

That last bite may seem a bit unusual, but the 12-time Olympic medalist is the latest athlete to place a bet on startup Luvo’s bid to more aggressively tackle the frozen-food aisle. Luvo, led by former Lululemon CEO Christine Day, is angling to sell a wide range of pizzas, burritos, and other entrees with fresher ingredients than what is typically found in that area of the grocery store.

It is a message that is resonating with some top athletes. Along with Coughlin, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and retired New York Yankees baseball player Derek Jeter are working with the startup. All three are also investors. Terms of those financial agreements haven’t been disclosed.

“They’ve all chosen to take a stand against childhood obesity and they won’t partner with the [soda] industry in particular,” said Day. “It is a big step for them to walk away from those endorsement contracts.”

All three are taking on a big challenge. Sales of frozen entrees, a more than $10 billion industry in the U.S., have dropped for three consecutive years. Grocery shoppers have turned to fresh foods that are found around the perimeter of the store. Observers say frozen foods have faced competition from ready-to-serve meals that grocery stores prep and sell at their retail locations, essentially generating in-store competition for the frozen meals category.

Coughlin describes herself as a passionate “foodie,” with her culinary interests going all the way back to her early college years at the University of California, Berkeley, where Coughlin grew herbs on her fire escape and learned more about cooking. Throughout her swimming career, Coughlin said she worked with a number of nutritionists and dietitians with varying degrees of success. Today, she touts a method she says is simple and makes sense: eat a ton of fresh foods, including fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.

“I try to stay away from the fads and go with logic,” the Olympian tells Fortune.

The 33-year-old says Luvo’s menu is full of healthier foods that she hasn’t seen in the frozen-food aisle before. And she’s already incorporating some of the meals into her diet. Coughlin is a big fan of Luvo’s vegetable bibimbap, which she adds eggs to for extra protein for her swimming training.

On a personal level, Coughlin said Luvo has helped her eat more meals in the afternoon – key to her training. She said in the past, she found it difficult to cook a full meal between her morning and afternoon training sessions.

Because Coughlin has invested in Luvo, she also plans to back the brand on social media, where she has 112,000 followers on Twitter and 138,000 on Instagram. Coughlin will also contribute to Luvo’s blog, where she hopes to help readers learn tricks to enhance their Luvo entrees in unusual ways. The frozen meals are available at grocers, such as Kroger  KR -2.05%  and Amazon 

Happy Birthday - August 23 - Natalie Coughlin, Demetrio Albertini, Kobe Bryant

American swimmer Natalie Coughlin is an institution in her sport, not just in the United States but across the globe.

Coughlin, who turns 33 today, was the first-ever woman to go under one minute in the 100m backstroke in a long course pool and she did it 10 days before her 20th birthday back in 2002.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she became the first US female athlete in modern history to win six medals in one Olympics, and the first woman ever to win a 100m backstroke gold in two consecutive Games.

Her total tally of 12 Olympic medals ties her with Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for the most all-time medals by a female swimmer.

Coughlin’s success has earned her the World Swimmer of the Year Award once (2002) and American Swimmer of the Year Award three times (2001, 2002 and 2008).

1971: Demetrio Albertini, Italian ex-footballer who was an AC Milan hero in the ‘90s. Played for Italy in two World Cups (44).

1978: Kobe Bryant, American 17-time All-Star NBA player, who has been an LA Laker since 1996 (37).

1979: Edgar Sosa, Mexican boxer who is the former WBC Light Flyweight Champion (36).

1988: Olga Govortsova, Belarusian tennis player, who hit a career-high ranking of 35 in 2008. Now world No70 (27).