After a phenomenal freshman campaign at Purdue, Abby Jagdfeld decided to return to the university of her home state and swim for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Due to NCAA rules, however, she was forced to sit out a year and won’t swim for UW until next season.
But before that season begins, Jagdfeld has a pretty important meet: the Olympic Trials, which began Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska.
This isn’t her first rodeo at the Olympic Trials, though. A two-time WIAA state champion in the 100-meter freestyle for Waukesha South, Jagdfeld was good enough as a high school swimmer to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials.
“It helps going once. I was so nervous in 2012,” Jagdfeld said. “In 2012 I had hardly been to any national event. I have a lot more experience going to big meets and dealing with stress and pressure now.”
Jagdfeld will swim four freestyle events: 50, 100, 200 and 400-meter. Her best time is in the 200-meter freestyle, an event in which she hopes to set a new personal best.
Despite having to sit out for an entire season, Jagdfeld refused to let the absence of competition derail her progress as a swimmer. In fact, Wisconsin head coach Whitney Hite said that she used this frustration as motivation to work even harder. Now, she’s taking a year of grueling work to Omaha.
“She’s a very hard worker. She’ll do anything asked of her,” Hite said. “She’ll work her [butt] off for you. I’m excited to see the fruits of her labor.”
Despite competing on an individual level, Jagdfeld is most excited to be swimming with a team again in Omaha. Having missed out on that experience all year, she is itching for the camaraderie that a team can provide.
“You’re putting in all the hard work with the team but don’t get to do the fun part,” Jagdfeld said of her experience this year. “It’s nice knowing I get to be with the team when I’m there. [I] went to meets throughout the year but they didn’t feel as important. This feels exciting and important.”
Jagdfeld is also keeping her goals simple—she said she just wants to swim really fast and hopefully set a new personal record. Reaching a semifinal would be an added bonus.
“You can just feel the excitement, especially in semifinals and finals,” Jagdfeld said.
She will swim in the 400-meter on Monday, the 200-meter on Tuesday, the 100-meter on Thursday and the 50-meter on Saturday. If she performs well enough, she has a chance to represent her country before she swims for the Badgers.
