University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI swimming: Chambers, Prochaska compete for Paralympic bids at U.S. team trials
6/29/2024 10:10:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Chambers captures two gold medals during three-day meet in Minnesota. Official team selection to be made on Sunday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS --- UNI swimming and diving for the first time in program history saw two active swimmers compete for a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team, with rising senior Olivia Chambers and rising junior Cali Prochaska hitting the pool at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatics Center this week.
Chambers, a six-time World Para Swimming Championship medalist from last summer, picked up two first-place finishes in her Paralympic Trials debut, while Prochaska, who won a gold medal at last fall's Parapan American Games, competed in three events in her second trials meet, earning a second, third and fourth-place finish.Â
With her two wins in Minnesota, Chambers becomes just the second-ever Panther athlete to win an event at the U.S. Paralympic Trials, joining former UNI track and field athlete Jessica Heims, who won the discus title in the F64 classification three years ago to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics.
"By itself, competing for a spot on Team USA is an incredible achievement," said UNI assistant swimming coach Ben Colin. "We're incredibly proud of Cali and Olivia for their efforts this week in Minneapolis. The hours they've both put in to reach this stage in their para swimming careers is astronomical and for them to have the opportunity to make the team that will represent their country at one of the sport's biggest competitions is not something to pass up. They are fantastic ambassadors for not only their team, but their university and their respective communities!"
Competition to qualify for the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympic Games began on Thursday as both Chambers and Prochaska swam the 100-meter breaststroke in their respective classifications. Chambers would clock a time of 1:18.60 in the SB13 final, finishing second to three-time Paralympic medalist Colleen Young, while Prochaska shaved 2.1 seconds off her preliminary heat time to take second in the SB8 classification to 2020 Paralympian MeiMei White in 1:42.89.
Friday's action saw a breakthrough day for Chambers, who led the entire women's field in the 400-meter freestyle with a preliminary time of 4:34.97. Chambers would follow up her stellar morning swim in the evening finals with a career-best mark of 4:32.55 to capture first place in the S13 classification.Â
In addition to the 400-meter freestyle, Chambers also clocked a time of 1:01.35 in an exhibition heat of the S13 100-meter freestyle, allowing herself to be considered for relay lineups for the U.S. team.Â
Prochaska, also swimming the 400-meter freestyle for S9 swimmers, finished third in both the prelims and finals, recording a 5:05.62 in the finals.
Saturday's competition would begin as Chambers claimed her second victory of the meet in the SM13 200-meter individual medley with a winning time of 2:28.52 in the finals. The Little Rock, Arkansas native also finished second in the S13 50-meter freestyle (28.34). Prochaska meanwhile closed her Paralympic Trials out with a fourth-place effort in the S9 100-meter butterfly with a finals time of 1:14.45.
Unlike the Olympic Swimming Trials where the top-two swimmers in each event automatically earn spots on the United States roster, the U.S. Paralympic Team is constructed using a formula that calculates the likelihood a swimmer is to earn a medal at the games based on their performance at the trials meet.Â
The formal selection and announcement of the U.S. delegation heading to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France will be made in a ceremony on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.Players Mentioned
