NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Swimming since she was a girl, Notre Dame rising senior Abigail Dolan has her sights set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Racing in her first meet of the summer, the Irish Aquatics May Invitational, Dolan is now one step closer to making that dream a reality.
“I am extremely excited to have qualified for the Olympic Trials this weekend,” Dolan said. “It’s a goal I’ve been working towards ever since I came to Notre Dame three years ago, and I am so thankful for everyone who helped me accomplish it. I am looking forward to June 2020.”
The Sunfish Lake, Minnesota, native qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in both the 100 free and 200 free, swimming a personal best 100 free time of 55.63 seconds. That qualifying time came just two hours after she hit the 200 free mark with her finish of 1:59.82 in the event.
Last season, Dolan led a strong women’s team to an undefeated record in dual meets and a fourth place team finish at the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.
An All-American Honorable Mention at the NCAA Championships, Dolan finished 15th in her individual race at the championships, swimming a 1:44.38 200 free time in the evening finals.
With the Irish, she boasts school records in both the 100 and 200 free events as well as a member of two record setting relays, both the 400 free relay and 800 free relay. Including her individual program bests, Dolan also owns three other all-time top-10 times for the Blue and Gold sitting second in the 500 free, sixth in the 200 fly and seventh all-time in the 50 free.
“It was a great weekend of swimming for Abbie,” head coach Mike Litzinger commented. “Coming off final exams week, and getting right into long course is not an easy task, let alone making US Olympic Trial Cuts. Those swims are a testament to Abbie’s work ethic, and competitive mindset. She has grown tremendously, and now the focus will be on the Trials in 2020.”
The swimming 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will begin Sunday, June 21, and run through the following Sunday, June 28. Tentatively, Dolan will compete in the 200 free on Tuesday, June 23 followed by the 100 free competition on Thursday, June 25.