Indiana University Athletics
King "Just Plain Fast" And Getting Faster
12/10/2015 3:52:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
By Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Lilly King doesn't have any secrets about her breaststroke.
It's the simplicity of it that has people turning heads and double-checking their stopwatches.
"She's fast," Indiana swim coach Ray Looze said, shaking his head. "Just plain fast."
King's uncanny speed was on full display in last weekend's U.S. Winter Nationals where she won a national title—and broke a 15-year-old record—in the 200-meter breaststroke. It was the "statement win" the 18-year-old said she's been working toward her entire competitive career.
And it didn't even come in her best event.
King's IU record of 2:24.47 in the 200 breaststroke was, admittedly, a surprise after she went into nationals expecting to compete for a title in the 100 breaststroke. Her 100 time of 1:06.43, another IU record, came just 0.26 short of beating 23-year-old Russian Yuliya Efimova.
"Winning the 200 was relieving, honestly, but totally unexpected," King said. "It was weird, but in a really good way."
King will take the wins however they come. The top step on the podium was a little sweeter after finishing second in the 100 at winter nationals, the World Games and this year's nationals back-to-back-to-back.
King admitted second place was beginning to become frustrating knowing how quick she was. Last weekend's result in the 200 was the breakthrough she said she never doubted would come, just not necessarily in that event.
"You never know when it's going to come," Looze said. "Sports are odd, but seeing her win in the 200 was kind of ironic and, in a way, funny. But that's how it goes."
King is a sprinter by trade. Her best event is actually the 50-meter breaststroke, but she doesn't give it as much attention because it isn't an Olympic event.
The breaststroke is the slowest of the four major strokes, which makes what King does all the more impressive. She spends only fractions of a second in the recovery process, cutting off hundredths of a second with each stroke.
Those fractions of a second begin to add up over the course of a race, giving King separation on the field.
The downside of King's technique is the little room for effort and few chances to catch her breath, putting additional emphasis on every move she makes in the water. All it takes is one slip to derail a potential record-setting time.
"My stroke just moves faster through the water than a lot of people, and it's always been like that," King said. "It's a painful route, but it works."
Consistency is King's biggest hurdle she's working to overcome if she wants to realize her Olympic dreams. For the first time in her competitive career, swimming at Indiana gives her the chance to build specific workouts around perfecting her breaststroke under the guidance of a world-renowned coaching staff.
Looze said King only has two speeds—fast and slow—but he's helping her find the happy-medium between quickness and repetition. She hopes an added emphasis on technique will make her a more potent contender in longer events like the 200 without sacrificing her advantage in the sprints.
"Slowing down has actually been the hardest thing," King said. "You don't think slowing down makes you quicker, but sometimes perfecting everything really helps. I know the next step is being able to take a step back and focus on my technique to stay quick over a longer time."
That's been King's goal since arriving at Indiana, the school she said she'd never end attending when she was a junior in high school. The Evansville native initially wanted to head out of state for school so she could establish her career away from home.
Ironically, it was a trip to Bloomington to watch an opponent swim that changed King's mind about Indiana. She took an unofficial visit to an IU meet planning to watch Tennessee swim when all her attention went to what the Hoosiers were doing.
Before long, King had changed her mind about staying in state after watching the way Looze ran Indian's program from afar.
"I absolutely fell in love with it," King said.
Looze is glad she did, too. National champions don't just walk in by accident, even at Indiana.
Especially ones as quick as King.
"I'm happy because she's building confidence and she's hungrier than she's ever been," Looze said. "She's a really humble, hardworking and hungry kid. Those are the three H's. When you've got those working, good things will happen."
King's national title in the 200 breaststroke was proof.
Even if it was unexpected.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Lilly King doesn't have any secrets about her breaststroke.
It's the simplicity of it that has people turning heads and double-checking their stopwatches.
"She's fast," Indiana swim coach Ray Looze said, shaking his head. "Just plain fast."
King's uncanny speed was on full display in last weekend's U.S. Winter Nationals where she won a national title—and broke a 15-year-old record—in the 200-meter breaststroke. It was the "statement win" the 18-year-old said she's been working toward her entire competitive career.
And it didn't even come in her best event.
King's IU record of 2:24.47 in the 200 breaststroke was, admittedly, a surprise after she went into nationals expecting to compete for a title in the 100 breaststroke. Her 100 time of 1:06.43, another IU record, came just 0.26 short of beating 23-year-old Russian Yuliya Efimova.
"Winning the 200 was relieving, honestly, but totally unexpected," King said. "It was weird, but in a really good way."
King will take the wins however they come. The top step on the podium was a little sweeter after finishing second in the 100 at winter nationals, the World Games and this year's nationals back-to-back-to-back.
King admitted second place was beginning to become frustrating knowing how quick she was. Last weekend's result in the 200 was the breakthrough she said she never doubted would come, just not necessarily in that event.
"You never know when it's going to come," Looze said. "Sports are odd, but seeing her win in the 200 was kind of ironic and, in a way, funny. But that's how it goes."
King is a sprinter by trade. Her best event is actually the 50-meter breaststroke, but she doesn't give it as much attention because it isn't an Olympic event.
The breaststroke is the slowest of the four major strokes, which makes what King does all the more impressive. She spends only fractions of a second in the recovery process, cutting off hundredths of a second with each stroke.
Those fractions of a second begin to add up over the course of a race, giving King separation on the field.
The downside of King's technique is the little room for effort and few chances to catch her breath, putting additional emphasis on every move she makes in the water. All it takes is one slip to derail a potential record-setting time.
"My stroke just moves faster through the water than a lot of people, and it's always been like that," King said. "It's a painful route, but it works."
Consistency is King's biggest hurdle she's working to overcome if she wants to realize her Olympic dreams. For the first time in her competitive career, swimming at Indiana gives her the chance to build specific workouts around perfecting her breaststroke under the guidance of a world-renowned coaching staff.
Looze said King only has two speeds—fast and slow—but he's helping her find the happy-medium between quickness and repetition. She hopes an added emphasis on technique will make her a more potent contender in longer events like the 200 without sacrificing her advantage in the sprints.
"Slowing down has actually been the hardest thing," King said. "You don't think slowing down makes you quicker, but sometimes perfecting everything really helps. I know the next step is being able to take a step back and focus on my technique to stay quick over a longer time."
That's been King's goal since arriving at Indiana, the school she said she'd never end attending when she was a junior in high school. The Evansville native initially wanted to head out of state for school so she could establish her career away from home.
Ironically, it was a trip to Bloomington to watch an opponent swim that changed King's mind about Indiana. She took an unofficial visit to an IU meet planning to watch Tennessee swim when all her attention went to what the Hoosiers were doing.
Before long, King had changed her mind about staying in state after watching the way Looze ran Indian's program from afar.
"I absolutely fell in love with it," King said.
Looze is glad she did, too. National champions don't just walk in by accident, even at Indiana.
Especially ones as quick as King.
"I'm happy because she's building confidence and she's hungrier than she's ever been," Looze said. "She's a really humble, hardworking and hungry kid. Those are the three H's. When you've got those working, good things will happen."
King's national title in the 200 breaststroke was proof.
Even if it was unexpected.
Players Mentioned
Breast/IM
/ Women's Swimming and DivingFB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16