Mitchell Ledford, the 16-year-old swimmer from Sebastian, may not have made the Olympic team last weekend in Omaha. But he made history by becoming one of the top 10 fastest swimmers ever of the 100-meter butterfly in the 15-to-16 age group.
In a pool built in a week on top of a basketball court in a stadium that seats 18,000, Mitchell won his race among some of the fastest swimmers in the country. But he was still a couple notches behind the speed he needed to make it to the Wave 2 Olympic trials this weekend where the most elite U.S. swimmers will compete for spots on the Olympic team.
Because of COVID-19, organizers split the Olympic trials over two weekends. Ledford’s qualifying time last March in St. Petersburg – where he beat Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte – only got him into Wave 1 trials.
At the Omaha event, Ledford had one more shot at making it to Wave 2. He needed to finish in the top two of the A-finals in his stroke. But to swim in the A-finals, he needed to finish in the top 8 in prelims; he missed that by one, finishing ninth.
Still, the race he won was thrilling as Ledford pulled in front of the pack in the final 50 meters and touched first, with his final reach for the wall highlighted on NBC’s overhead shot.
Mitchell’s local coach, Scott Barlow, was watching from the pool deck. Mitchell’s parents, Carrie and Patrick Ledford, cheered him on from the stands, along with two of his three older brothers and their wives, and another coach who came from Texas to see him.
ESPN’s West Palm affiliate radio station was also paying attention, interviewing Mitchell via Zoom last week.
Also watching closely were college swim coaches. Several already have their eyes on Mitchell, a rising junior at Sebastian River High School.
As of June 15, college scouts can finally start to talk to him directly, according to NCAA rules. Considering Mitchell now has a coda by his name – 10th fastest in the butterfly in his age group – he could find himself talking to some big-name schools as he debates his future in the coming months. Mitchell, like his brothers before him, is as strong in academics as he is in athletics.
The Omaha experience offered a taste of what may lie ahead for Mitchell.
“The pool itself and the facility is so amazing compared to any other pool I’ve been to,” Mitchell said.
The more than 800 swimmers there for the eight-day competition got star treatment, Mitchell said, with their own lounge and amenities.
“It was like you just belonged there,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be able to match that experience with anything.”
Unless, of course, he makes it to the Olympics in four years.
This summer, when he is not in the water, it seems a safe bet his attention will be riveted on the swimming action in Tokyo.