Sept. 30, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State swimmer Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) has accepted an invitation from USA Swimming to represent his country in the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. Ryan and Team USA will go head-to-head with the European All-Starts in Glasgow, Scotland on Dec. 20 and 21.
"I am really excited that I will be going to Scotland in December to swim internationally for Team USA," said Ryan. "I am so honored that they picked me to go against Team Europe this year. This will be a great experience as well for me to show that Penn State has a great swimming program."
The sophomore swimmer was selected based on his performances at the 2013 World Championship Trials held in Indianapolis, Ind. this past June. At the trials, Ryan placed third in the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 54.89 and fourth in the 100-meter backstroke, finishing in 53.84. The Havertown, Pa. native discussed the process of being selected to the prestigious event.
"A week before I got the email asking me to go to Duel in the Pool, I saw on USA Swimming's website about a meet in Scotland," said Ryan. "I thought to myself, that would be really cool if I could go on a trip to Scotland because I have family in Ireland and they could come over to see me swim. Shortly after, I got an email saying that I had been selected to represent the U.S. in Glasgow, Scotland. I could not believe it."
Ryan broke onto the scene last season for the Nittany Lions during his freshman campaign, producing a Penn State season top three time in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. Ryan hit reached the NCAA "B" qualifying standard in each of the three events.
The two-day, short-course meet will be contested at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, site of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Day one of the meet is slated for 2 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 21, followed by the conclusion of the meet at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 21. Footage from the meet will be televised by NBC as part of a two-hour show on Sunday, Dec. 22. The show will air from 4-6 p.m. ET.
The U.S. team will be comprised of the swimmers who posted the top qualifying time in each Olympic event at the 2013 FINA World Championships, 2013 World University Games or 2013 U.S. Open. The top two swimmers in the 100m and 200m freestyles at these three events qualify for the roster, which may feature a maximum of 22 men and 22 women.
Swimmers can compete in a maximum of six events (individual and relays), and each team may enter up to four swimmers per individual event and one relay. A running score will be kept combining the points earned by both women and men to determine the winning team.
The Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool is a made-for-television event, designed to showcase the sport's most exciting swimmers in a short-course meters format. This year's event will be the sixth Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool in the history of USA Swimming, with past Duels held in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. The U.S. is undefeated and holds a 5-0 record in the history of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool.