As she prepares for her third summer Olympics, U.S. swimmer Abbey Weitzeil from Santa Clarita said she is reveling in the growth of interest she has witnessed in women's sports over the years.
Weitzeil went to her first Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and made her second U.S. swim team in 2021 for the Tokyo Olympics.
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She also competed in the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in 2012.
Over that time, she said she has seen meets move into pro football stadiums and attract record-breaking crowds. The U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in June were at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
"Over the years I've been in this sport, women's sports has slowly been growing," Weitzeil said in an exclusive interview with City News Service. "Recently there's been a big spike in interest in media around women's sports. In the swimming world, we're loving the fresh faces. You have Gretchen Walsh. You have the veteran Simone (Manuel). People are really interested in our sport."
Women's sports in general have exploded in popularity in recent years. Caitlin Clark, who played at the University of Iowa, burst on to the basketball scene and created a fan and media frenzy during this year's NCAA women's tournament. It continued when she was drafted by the Indiana Fever and began her WNBA career.
Angel Reese from Louisiana State University also joined the WNBA this year, and has added to the sudden interest in women's basketball and women's sports.
In the world of women's swimming, Katie Ledecky has emerged as arguably the sport's biggest star and most popular athlete. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and holds the record for most individual Olympic gold medals in women's swimming with six. She holds world records in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events. She will be competing on the U.S. swim team for the fourth time at the Olympics in Paris and made her Olympics debut at the 2012 Summer Games in London.
"Swimming is growing in general and the interest in women in swimming, in any sport. I think it's amazing and I think we've seen a boost in the last year or two, especially with people bringing attention to it like Caitlin Clark," Weitzeil said. "It's becoming bigger and bigger and bigger."
In addition to Clark, Reese and the WNBA, the U.S. women's national soccer team has grown in popularity. Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe contributed to its rise by winning World Cup championships and gold medals at the Olympics. It continued the success of teams led by Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain in previous years.
U.S. gymnast Simone Biles has been one of the most popular athletes in America, and around the world, for years.
Weitzeil said she has seen that interest in women in other sports spill over to swimming.
"You look at trials and we're now swimming in football stadiums. We have record-breaking attendance and it's so fun to be a part of. It truly is amazing. I think it's awesome that media is shifting to be more interested and bring more attention to more women's sports," Weitzeil said. "People are more intrigued. It takes just one and then it starts to skyrocket. It's definitely awesome to see."
Weitzeil set the course record in the 50-meter freestyle at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2023 in 24.00. In the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis in June, she was third in the 50-meter freestyle final, narrowly missing qualifying individually for the Olympics in the event.
She was fifth in the 100-meter freestyle, earning her a spot on the U.S. women's freestyle relay team. She has won four Olympic medals in her two previous Summer Games. She has one gold, two silvers and a bronze, all in relays.
Kate Douglass won the 100-meter freestyle final at the Olympic Trials in 52.56 seconds. Torri Huske was second in 52.93 seconds. They will compete individually in the 100-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics.
Walsh was third in 53.13 seconds and Manuel was fourth in 53.25 seconds.
Weitzeil was fifth in 53.70 seconds. The top five swimmers in the 100- meter freestyle were separated by 1.14 seconds.
Weitzeil said she tested positive for COVID-19 after the Olympic Trials and was sick during the meet. When asked if she would like another chance to qualify in the 50-meter freestyle, she said, "I wish I could do it again immediately."
In the 50-meter freestyle final, Manuel won in 24.13 seconds. Walsh was second in 24.15 seconds. Weitzeil touched in third place in 24.26 seconds, 0.11 seconds behind Walsh.
"The 50 is my favorite race. I swam it every year since 2014. Knowing it was my last chance to do an individual swim and it being my favorite race, I kind of went out there ... the coaches came up to me afterward and said that was the best race of the meet, even though it wasn't what I wanted.
"I gave it everything I had and that is what I had that day. I look back at it, obviously I didn't get top two in that, but I got third and I was proud of myself for getting up and having the best race of the meet for me after a long nine days."
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