The Young Breaststroke Star

The teenage Kasey Carlson catapulted herself into the national spotlight by placing 2nd in the 100m breaststroke at the 2009 U.S. National Championships. Her performance earned her a ticket to Rome for the World Championships, where she came away with a surprising bronze medal. Given that Carlson hasn’t even hit college yet, she will be a major player in the upcoming years in both the sprint breaststroke and possibly the sprint freestyle as well. She lives and trains in Walnut Creek, California.

An Improbable Summer 2009

In 2008, Kasey Carlson finished 14th in the 100m breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Certainly an impressive feat for anyone, let alone a teenager. But no one predicted what Carlson had in store one year later. At the 2009 National Championships, she finished runner-up to Rebecca Soni in the 100m breast, and suddenly became the future of American women’s sprint breaststroke.

2009 World Championships

No one picked Carlson to make the World Championship team except for Carlson and her coach, Paul Stafford. She recently told Swimnetwork.com: “My coach (Paul Stafford) knew that I had a shot at it. He picked it up every practice, and would say, ‘Trials, Trials, Trials.’ In the back of my head I had Rome in mind, but I certainly could not say that I knew I was going to make it. Prelims at trials was an amazing experience – dropping two seconds. At that point, I knew I could make the team.” When she got to Rome, she knew what to do. The teenager snuck into the final heat, then managed to swim to a bronze medal. “I was just stoked to make the A final. I think I was seventh going in. I was happy to be with everybody. I just kept thinking, ‘I’m just here for fun.’ Making the podium was unbelievable.”

College and Beyond

For any young budding superstar, choosing a college is one of the most difficult decisions. For Carlson, it was slightly easier because the California native knew geographically where she wanted to end up: “I really want to stay in California. That’s my main goal.” The high school senior ultimately decided that in fall of 2010 she will attend the University of Southern California – a school rich in swimming history. There she will hone her talents and train alongside fellow breaststroke star, Rebecca Soni. For now, Carlson will set her sights on the next major international event: the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships. Only time will tell how far up the international podium she will go.

1 World Medal (bronze)

2009 World Championships (Rome)
BRONZE
100m Breastroke