Waltham Native Jared Daigle Qualifies For Olympic Trials

WALTHAM, MA — A Waltham native is headed to the Olympic trials this month.

Jared Daigle, a junior at the University of Michigan, grew up swimming at the Waltham YMCA. He came to Michigan after about six years training with the North Shore Swim Club. He also swam for BC High School.

Daigle wowed area swim coaches when he swam the 200 backstroke at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in 2017, and dropped a whole 5 seconds off his time to finish in second place. He was expected to come in 24th.

His local coach at the time predicted in Daigle would head to the Olympic trials.

He won't have to wait much longer.

Daigle will be competing June 17 in the 200 individual medley at the Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska. He will also swim the 200 backstroke, which is what his Michigan Swim profile says is his best. The head coach at Michigan University says not to be fooled by that.

"He can swim it all," Mike Bottom, head coach of the Michigan men's Swim and Dive team and who has seen the swimmer shave seconds from his times as he improves all of his strokes this year. A marked accomplishment.

Daigle just made the Olympic trial standard by dropping nearly 5 seconds in the 200 individual medley, or IM, during which swimmers use all four competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

But it hasn't come easy, Bottom said in a phone interview from the deck of the university's pool as Daigle swam in a lane nearby.

"It's pretty crazy," he said. "He went from not making the Big Ten [Championship] a year ago, and now making the Olympic trials."

Freshman year, Daigle had some health issues, then sophomore year, he had other health issues, and then there was the pandemic throughout his junior year, said Bottom. Undaunted, Daigle pushed through and kept coming back.

"He thrives off a little adversity," Bottom said. "It's been fun to watch him, not only for his improvement, but his ability to be brilliant in all areas of his life."

Bottom described Daigle as someone who smiles easily and cares deeply for his team.

"He's just a good guy and a great competitor," Bottom said.

Making it to the Olympic trials is a feat in and of itself, the coach said. But said if the swimmer from Waltham manages to make it to the semifinals there will certainly be some celebrating.

His advice?

"I just tell him to keep doing what you're doing," said Bottom. "And enjoy the ride."

Interested in watching him at the trials? They will be live-streamed 6:30 p.m. ET at www.usaswimming.org.