Swim Qualifies Four for 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials

CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati swimming and diving team has four student-athletes representing the Bearcats in wave I at the U.S. Swimming 2021 Olympic Trials, June 4th-7th in Omaha, Nebraska.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Olympic selection meet has been split into two waves to limit the number of athletes and promote health and safety protocols. Wave I will feature athletes who made the original Olympic Trials qualifying time. Qualifying times date back to the summer of 2019, when the original timeframe for 2020 Olympic trials qualifying times began. 

The top two finishers in each event will move on to the Wave II meet, which is also held in Omaha from June 13th-20th. Athletes who hit a new set of tougher qualifying times automatically qualified and are already locked into the Wave II meet. The overall results from wave II will select the Olympic team, with the top two in each event likely making the Olympic roster, along with the top six  in the 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle events.
 

BEARCATS COMPETING
Hunter Gubeno highlights the group of four, qualifying for three events at the 2021 May Long Course Meet hosted by the Club Mountaineers in West Virginia. There he swam a 56.43 in the 100 meter backstroke, a 2:02.97 in the 200 backstroke, and a 2:03.83 in the 200 individual medley event to punch three tickets to Omaha.

Conner Funke joined Gubeno in West Virginia, where he swam a 2:17.68 in the 200 meter breaststroke, a wave I time to also get him to Omaha.

Blake Hanna qualified for the 100 meter backstroke on February 28th, 2020 with a time of 56.37. He also qualified for the 200 meter backstroke back on July 18th, 2019 when he swam a 2:02.27- a time that initially qualified him for the 2020 Olympic Trials. His time carried over into 2021 and guaranteed him a spot in the wave I event.

Kevin Leibold swam a 2:01.09 in the 200 meter butterfly back on June 23, 2019, a time that also originally qualified him for the 2020 Olympic Trails and guaranteed him a spot in 2021. 

HOW TO WATCH
The Wave I finals will air on the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Check your cable provider for information on accessing the Olympic Channel.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, JUNE 4TH - PRELIMS 10 a.m. CT / FINALS 7 p.m. CT
1. Women's 100 meter freestyle
2. Men's 100 meter freestyle
3. Women's 100 meter backstroke
4. Men's 100 meter backstroke  -  Blake Hannah, Hunter Gubeno
5. Women's 200 meter butterfly 
6. Men's 200 meter butterfly -  Kevin Liebold
7. Women's 800 meter freestyle
8. Men's 800 meter freestyle

SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH - PRELIMS 10 a.m. CT / FINALS 7 p.m. CT
9. Women's 200 meter freestyle
10. Men's 200 meter freestyle
11. Women's 100 meter breaststroke
12. Men's 100 meter breaststroke
13. Women's 400 meter individual medley
14. Men's 400 meter individual medley

SUNDAY, JUNE 6TH - PRELIMS 10 a.m. CT / FINALS 7 p.m. CT
15. Women's 400 meter freestyle
16. Men's 400 meter freestyle
17. Women's 100 meter butterfly
18. Men's 100 meter butterfly
19. Women's 200 meter backstroke
20. Men's 200 meter backstroke -  Blake Hanna, Hunter Gubeno

MONDAY, JUNE 7TH - PRELIMS 10 a.m. CT / FINALS 7 p.m. CT
21. Women 's 200 meter individual medley
22. Men's 200 meter individual medley - Hunter Gubeno
23. Women's 50 meter freestyle
24. Men's 50 meter freestyle
25. Women's 200 meter breaststroke
26. Men's 200 meter breaststroke - Conner Funke
27. Women's 1,500 meter freestyle
28. Men's 1,500 meter freestyle