As Olympic Trials Approach, Bulldog Swimmer Aims to Emulate Chase Kalisz’s Success

When Chase Kalisz will take the US Olympic swimming trials in the Lucas Oil Stadium in mid-2024, Daiya Seto might be in his mind in a substantial proportion. His bone of contention would be to keep the ownership of the 400 IM gold in his grasp, minimizing the nemesis Japanese swimmer’s threat. The swimming sensation, aged 29, wouldn’t oppose a friendly competition from his University of Georgia comrade, Jay Litherland. The duo made a frightening combo in the 400m IM Olympic event previously. With that, they epitomized themselves to many grains in the institute. 

Among the grains, one recently stood up with his prowess in multiple swimming categories. For the prodigy, sharing the Olympic occasion with other phenoms remains in the bull’s eye. 

Reese Branzell hopes to cut into the US Olympic swimming team 

UGA junior Reese Branzell’s Olympic dream surfaced for the first time when he was five years old. From then, the dream never made an absence in the junior’s mind. “It’s kind of surreal, honestly, to think that I’ve been swimming for so long, and I’m finally starting to reach … my pinnacle goal,” was his side of the story.

However, certain reasons conjured to let Branzell think that he was almost there, to storm into the best swimming squad for the Olympic in the Star and Stripes. Interestingly, he expressed his elation regarding the Georgia Bulldogs’ coaching facility. “I think being at Georgia and having an amazing coaching and support staff, and I’m around a bunch of incredible athletes,” he claimed to wptv. com. With that, his gilded form lent a shoulder to his dream. 

On November 19, 2023, Branzell bogged down his competitors by clocking 48.84 in the 100 L free in the UGA Fall LC Time Trial. This was a rapid change from his previous clocking of 50.92 in the Florida Gold Coast Senior Championship in 2022.

On both occasions, he earned the gold medals. But the latest timing was on par with Jack Alexy’s stint in the Fukuoka team trial this year. Rather, Branzell might want to repeat Chase Kalisz’s form in the UGA color as the latter has multiple Olympic and World Championship decorations to his name. The preparation narrated more. 

The work in silence 

Branzell sneaked to his club coach for further preparation at the onset of the trial. Ramon Walton, the concerned coach, modified his one or two movements underwater previously. That worked like magic on Reese Branzell. “He felt like he just needed a change to elevate his position in swimming, It helped him kind of flourish”, Walton narrated, recollecting memories. 

Read more: Mentored by Michael Phelps, Chase Kalisz Carries His Legacy at US Swimming Open

However, Branzell kept his adamant mood to explain his preparation for D-day. “As long as I just keep doing what I have to do and just staying in the water and training, I think I can take this to where I want to be and hopefully put myself on the Olympic team,” the 100L free winner in the SEC conceded. 

Watch this story: This 17-Year-Old Swimmer Breaks 20-Year-Old Record of Swimming Goat Michael Phelps