Katie Ledecky has withdrawn from the TYR Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont, Illinois. Ledecky said she is staying to train in Florida after dealing with an illness.
“11 Weeks out from World Championship Trials! 🌏 I won’t be making the trip to the Westmont #TYRProSeries meet this week after being a bit under the weather the last week…staying home to train and get 100%. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead over the next few months,” Katie Ledecky posted on Instagram.
Leon Marchand, who just claimed three NCAA championships in dominating fashion, will be one of six individual gold medalists from last year’s World Championships racing in Westmont, joining Americans Ryan Murphy, Bobby Finke, Lilly King, Regan Smith and Nic Fink. The meet will run from Wednesday, April 12 through Saturday, April 15.
Click here to view the full psych sheet for Westmont.
Smith will be in all three backstroke events as well as the 100 and 200 fly. The women’s 200 back could be one of the most intriguing races of the week as Smith races against 2022 World Championships runnerup Phoebe Bacon for the first time since last April’s International Team Trials, where Bacon and Rhyan White grabbed the two spots on the World Championships team and denied the then-world-record holder (Smith) a chance to race the event in Budapest. But since then, Smith has been resurgent in the 200 back, with multiple 2:05 efforts this season.
The women’s sprint events will feature Abbey Weitzeil, off to a strong start in 2023 after missing the Worlds team in 2022, along with Simone Manuel, Erika Brown and Natalie Hinds. The collection of pros on the psych sheet includes Kieran Smith, Leah Smith, Michael Andrew, Annie Lazor, Olivia Smoliga and Jay Litherland. High-school age standouts Erin Gemmell and Leah Hayes, a native of the Chicago area, are also listed to compete.
