Dec. 8, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame senior women’s swimmer Emma Reaney’s first international meet with Team USA is in the books. After spending over a week in Doha, Qatar at the FINA Short Course World Championships, the five-time All-American returned to the United States Monday with a silver medal in the 200m medley relay and a lifetime of memories.
Take a look back at her first international meet in the red, white and blue, as we breakdown her meet day-by-day starting with the first day of competition, December 3.
—
Day One Recap: Reaney opened her championships by advancing through the morning prelims in the 50m breaststroke … she swam 30.20 to place seventh … in the night session, she locked up a spot in the finals by placing eighth (30.32) in the semifinals … she was the lone American to make the semifinals or finals.
Quotes
On qualifying for finals in 50m breast …
“Especially in the 50m, which is something I’ve never really done before, it’s so exciting. I thought I would be more nervous, but I’m just so excited to be here.
“Oh my gosh. This is something I’ve always dreamed of to be able to swim with the American flag on my cap. I’m very honored.”
Prelim Results – 50m Breast
Semifinal Results – 50m Breast
—
Day Two Recap: In her first finals appearance of the championships, Reaney placed sixth in the 50m breast (30.05) … she finished just .06 seconds from breaking the impressive 30-second mark.
Quotes
On final swim …
“I feel really good. I really wanted to break 30, so it’s a little frustrating to be that close, but I think it’s a really good sign that my 50, an event I’m not normally really great at, is that fast. So I’m excited for the 100.”
On experience so far …
It’s so fun. I remember after the semifinal, I couldn’t wait to get back here and do it again. I’m really excited for the next couple of days.”
On what she learned in finals …
“Not to be nervous and to just have fun with it because it seems to go better that way.”
Finals Results – 50m Breast
—
Day Three Recap: Joining 200m medley relay teammates Felicia Lee, Claire Donahue and Amanda Weir, Reaney swam her 50m breaststroke leg in 30.61 to help power the squad to second place in the preliminaries while shattering the American short course record in the event (1:46.82) … the previous record was held by a University of Arizona foursome that included Olympian Amanda Beard … the mark was set at the 2000 NCAA Championships (1:49.71) and was the oldest American women’s short course record in the books.
In the finals, the foursome of Felicia Lee, Reaney, Claire Donahue and Natalie Coughlin lowered the American record to 1:44.92, earning silver with a second-place finish … Reaney swam a 29.42 split, which was over a second faster than her morning swim and was the fastest split in the field … she took over with the U.S. in second place and gave her squad the lead after her stroke … her time was a personal best and would have earned her a bronze medal in the 50m breast if she had swam that time in Thursday night’s finals.
Women’s Medley4x50 Podium @USASwimming #SilverMedal #FeliciaLee @chloreaney @clairedonahue @NatalieCoughlin pic.twitter.com/2WhE0mgm88
– Deepbluemedia (@GiorgioScalaDBM) December 5, 2014
Elsewhere on the third day, the 2013-14 Irish tri-captain qualified for the semis in the 100m breast with a prelims time of 1:05.17 that put her seventh … in the semis, Reaney just missed out on the finals by finishing 10th in 1:05.50.
Quotes
On silver medal relay team …
“I’m so excited about the relay. We had a blast before that race and I think that’s why I swam so well. Knowing those girls have your back and Team USA is behind you, it’s hard to fail. I’m so proud my first international medal could be in a relay with those girls.”
On semis swim in 100m breast …
“I’m pretty upset with my swim. I jammed my second turn and my game plan went totally out the window due to a little bit of panic. I’m using that frustration as a learning opportunity and something to motivate me even more in my 200.”
Prelim Results – 200m Medley Relay
Finals Results – 200m Medley Relay
Prelim Results – 100m Breast
Semifinal Results – 100m Breast
—
Day Four Recap: Didn’t compete.
.@chloreaney hanging out with her @USASwimming peeps on day 4 of the FINA Short Course World Championships. pic.twitter.com/NCXl5rWW5w
– Notre Dame Swimming (@NDwSwimming) December 6, 2014
—
Day Five Recap: Reaney wrapped up her meet with a 14th place showing in the 200m breast … only the top eight advanced to the finals in the event.
Prelim Results – 200m Breast
Final Quotes
On meet as a whole …
“I had a lot of fun. I know this wasn’t a huge meet for a lot of these veterans. I know it might not have been the most fun trip they’ve been on, but I was laughing the whole time having Kathleen Baker as my roommate and then being around Elizabeth Beisel, we are kind of catalysts to each other.”
On lessons learned from meet …
“I think I learned that I need to prepare a little better. I do trust my instincts, but I probably shouldn’t rely on them as much as I did. So lesson learned.”
On highlights of meet …
“I was most happy about my 50m [breast] and the 4x50m medley relay [200m medley relay]. I was really happy to be on the podium.”
On winning a silver medal at short course worlds …
“I don’t know if it’s really set in yet. Everyone asked me if I cried. I didn’t cry, we were having too much fun up there for me to even realize what was going on. It was pretty awesome.”
—
Reaney At The 2014 FINA Short Course World Championships
200-Meter Medley Relay (Silver Medal)
Prelims: 2nd (1:46.82 – American Record) – Felicia Lee / Emma Reaney / Claire Donahue / Amanda Weir
Finals: 2nd (1:44.92 – American Record) – Felicia Lee / Emma Reaney / Claire Donahue / Natalie Coughlin
50-Meter Breaststroke
Prelims: 7th (30.20)
Semis: 8th (30.32)
Finals: 6th (30.05 – Personal Record)
100-Meter Breaststroke
Prelims: 7th (1:05.17)
Semis: 10th (1:05.50)
200-Meter Breaststroke
Prelims: 14th (2:21.58)
–Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
–ND–