BYU swimmer Jake Taylor looks to qualify for Rio Olympics in 200-meter backstroke

Jake Taylor’s swimming career has been filled with success. Since entering the pool at age eight he has swum his way to victories at every level he has competed, received numerous awards, and broken numerous records.

All of that has led the All-American and back-to-back MPSF swimmer of the year to the biggest opportunity of his swimming career...the US Olympic Trials. A chance to swim his way onto the US Olympic Swim Team and compete at the highest level of his sport.

Taylor qualified for the Olympic trials recording a time of 54.60 in the 100-meter backstroke and 2.00.74 in his favorite event, the 200-meter backstroke.

He competed in his first event of the Olympic trials, the 100-meter backstroke, earlier in the week and fell short of qualifying for the Olympics. He finished tied for seventh place (the top two finishers make the Olympic team) with a time of 54.72 in the 100-meter final, which unfortunately was his slowest time of his three 100-meter races at the trials.

Although seventh place wasn't good enough to make the Olympic team in that event he was able to advance through the qualifying heats and semi-finals to the finals and prove himself as one of the top swimmers in the country at that event at any level.

Taylor will have a second opportunity to qualify for the US Olympic team in the 200-meter backstroke, his favorite event. Given that the US Swim Team has one of the strongest swim programs in the world, Taylor will have to beat out some of the most talented swimmers in the entire world in order to make the team.

Today’s 200-meter backstroke preliminary heats are estimated to start at 11:05 a.m. EDT. Taylor will be in lane 8 in heat 10 of 12. If Taylor advances out of the preliminary heats, he will compete in the semi-finals later in the day at around 7:30 p.m. EDT. The 200-meter backstroke final will be held Friday evening. Good luck Jake!