Photo by: Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com
Felt Excited to Swim in U.S. Olympic Trials
6/14/2024 12:37:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Swimming & Diving
Before he could even walk, Dylan Felt was at home in the water, a Florida beach kid smiling and splashing around in the sand and waves.
Swimming provided a natural competitive route, and over time, it's taken him a lot of places, one stroke and breath at a time.
He excelled in the club ranks, forged a path to Davidson College and immediately impacted the Atlantic 10 Conference as the top male Rookie and Performer at the 2023 A-10 Championships. In February, the sophomore repeated as the league's Most Outstanding Performer.
Now, having just completed the midway flip turn of his college career, Felt is set to swim somewhere few do: alongside Olympians inside an NFL stadium.
As he enters the U.S. Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Saturday and prepares to compete with the nation's best in four events, Felt is both humbled and grateful. But the most significant emotion he's feeling the week of his 20th birthday is raw excitement, like the grownup version of that toddler on a beach. And who could blame him?
"I usually get pretty nervous before big swim meets, but I think this time, the nerves were all about actually qualifying for the meet," Felt said this week. "Now, there's no expectation. It's just going out there and experiencing this huge event that is just going to be fun. I'm definitely very excited. … That's the main emotion that I'm feeling. There is a little bit of nerves, though. There's always a little bit of nerves when you're competing because you want to do good and there's going to be a lot of people watching."
Felt is the first Wildcat to compete in the Trials since Luke Burton and Katy Williams swam in Omaha, Neb., prior to the 2016 Rio Games.
Over the course of a week, Felt will compete in a wide range of long-course, freestyle events, beginning with the 400-meter free on Saturday. He'll also swim the 200, 800 and 1,500.
"Racing at the Olympic Trials is a tremendous honor," said Davidson coach John Young. "Dylan has demonstrated that he is an extraordinary performer, and I couldn't be more excited for him, that he gets to compete with the other best swimmers in the USA. He's got a busy week ahead. It is a terrific accomplishment to qualify in even a single event at Trials, and Dylan gets to race at least four times. I know he'll have a ball."
Prelims are set for 11 a.m. each day and will air live on Peacock. The action will re-air nightly on USA Network, prior to the live 8 p.m. finals on NBC and Peacock.
Felt, who competes on the club circuit with Swim Fort Lauderdale, earned Trials cuts in the 200, 800 and 1,500 at the 2023 Futures Championships last summer, then added the 400 cut at the Speedo Sectionals in May.
He credits the coaching he's received throughout his life for helping him become technically sound.
"That helps me be efficient in the water," he said. "After that, hard training has built my endurance and my mental endurance as well. I don't get scared for races because I know I've put in a lot of work, and I'm able to go out fast and stay fast because I've put in a lot of work at practice."
While the stage is now larger, the lights are brighter and he's swimming in a cavernous stadium that has hosted a Super Bowl, Felt will stick with his typical pre-race routine and mindset.
"I think I'm just going to keep it the same, not change something that's not broken," he said. "Just being in a good head space, not focusing on anything else, just going through my race plan. I think that helps a lot. I don't like to talk to anyone behind the blocks or before I swim. I just like to be focused on what I have to do next, and that usually works for me."
In two college seasons, Felt has earned eight A-10 medals, including four golds as back-to-back league champion in the 500 and 1,650 free. His name is on nine program records, including five individual freestyle marks. He's shown what he can do in college competition.
Now, it's time to step into the national spotlight for moments he knows he'll never forget.
"I'm definitely going to take it in," he said. "It's going to be an experience. I don't just want to be in my head all the time about the races. I want to actually experience the Olympic Trials, which is the best part. I will focus on my races when I need to race, but will definitely take in the whole atmosphere."
Swimming provided a natural competitive route, and over time, it's taken him a lot of places, one stroke and breath at a time.
He excelled in the club ranks, forged a path to Davidson College and immediately impacted the Atlantic 10 Conference as the top male Rookie and Performer at the 2023 A-10 Championships. In February, the sophomore repeated as the league's Most Outstanding Performer.
Now, having just completed the midway flip turn of his college career, Felt is set to swim somewhere few do: alongside Olympians inside an NFL stadium.
As he enters the U.S. Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Saturday and prepares to compete with the nation's best in four events, Felt is both humbled and grateful. But the most significant emotion he's feeling the week of his 20th birthday is raw excitement, like the grownup version of that toddler on a beach. And who could blame him?
"I usually get pretty nervous before big swim meets, but I think this time, the nerves were all about actually qualifying for the meet," Felt said this week. "Now, there's no expectation. It's just going out there and experiencing this huge event that is just going to be fun. I'm definitely very excited. … That's the main emotion that I'm feeling. There is a little bit of nerves, though. There's always a little bit of nerves when you're competing because you want to do good and there's going to be a lot of people watching."
Felt is the first Wildcat to compete in the Trials since Luke Burton and Katy Williams swam in Omaha, Neb., prior to the 2016 Rio Games.
Over the course of a week, Felt will compete in a wide range of long-course, freestyle events, beginning with the 400-meter free on Saturday. He'll also swim the 200, 800 and 1,500.
"Racing at the Olympic Trials is a tremendous honor," said Davidson coach John Young. "Dylan has demonstrated that he is an extraordinary performer, and I couldn't be more excited for him, that he gets to compete with the other best swimmers in the USA. He's got a busy week ahead. It is a terrific accomplishment to qualify in even a single event at Trials, and Dylan gets to race at least four times. I know he'll have a ball."
Prelims are set for 11 a.m. each day and will air live on Peacock. The action will re-air nightly on USA Network, prior to the live 8 p.m. finals on NBC and Peacock.
Felt, who competes on the club circuit with Swim Fort Lauderdale, earned Trials cuts in the 200, 800 and 1,500 at the 2023 Futures Championships last summer, then added the 400 cut at the Speedo Sectionals in May.
He credits the coaching he's received throughout his life for helping him become technically sound.
"That helps me be efficient in the water," he said. "After that, hard training has built my endurance and my mental endurance as well. I don't get scared for races because I know I've put in a lot of work, and I'm able to go out fast and stay fast because I've put in a lot of work at practice."
While the stage is now larger, the lights are brighter and he's swimming in a cavernous stadium that has hosted a Super Bowl, Felt will stick with his typical pre-race routine and mindset.
"I think I'm just going to keep it the same, not change something that's not broken," he said. "Just being in a good head space, not focusing on anything else, just going through my race plan. I think that helps a lot. I don't like to talk to anyone behind the blocks or before I swim. I just like to be focused on what I have to do next, and that usually works for me."
In two college seasons, Felt has earned eight A-10 medals, including four golds as back-to-back league champion in the 500 and 1,650 free. His name is on nine program records, including five individual freestyle marks. He's shown what he can do in college competition.
Now, it's time to step into the national spotlight for moments he knows he'll never forget.
"I'm definitely going to take it in," he said. "It's going to be an experience. I don't just want to be in my head all the time about the races. I want to actually experience the Olympic Trials, which is the best part. I will focus on my races when I need to race, but will definitely take in the whole atmosphere."
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