Mother’s Day: Vollmer heading back to the Olympics as a mom

Less than 16 months after giving birth to her first child, Dana Vollmer is headed to Rio for her third Olympic Games despite a slower-than-expected time in the 100-meter butterfly on Monday at the United States team trials in Omaha, Neb. “I’ve got nothing to lose”.

In addition to her individual race, Worrell also will be a member of the USA medley relay team in Rio, providing another chance at a medal. With the top two heading to Rio, Vollmer had her place secured. “It is my first time, and I didn’t know what to expect”.

Vollmer led at the turn, but the late-blooming Worrell rallied on the return lap to post the second-fastest time in the world this year at 56.48 seconds. Chase Kalisz, Jay Litherland and Maya DiRado qualified on the first night of the trials. She is also attempting to qualify for Rio in the 200 fly, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. “I’ve been putting up times in practice faster than I’ve ever gone in my life, so it didn’t show up here, but, um, yeah in a couple more weeks, I hope that it will”. I try to come into each day with no expectations and improve all the time. It’s not what I wanted, but honestly as soon as I looked over and I saw Kelsi’s face and saw how excited she was and the tears, it reminded me that second place puts me on this team.

Worrell didn’t even make the American squad for last year’s world championships, but she’s Rio bound as well.

Shaking off the pain of a groin injury, Lochte got through the morning preliminaries and posted the fifth-fastest time in the evening semifinals.

Donahue swam a 58.76 in lane one in the second, eight-swimmer semifinal. “It’s been nice because normally it’s all, “Momma, momma”, he just always wants momma because I’m there all day with him”.

Josh Prenot just missed out on a spot on the Olympic team after taking third in the 100 breaststroke in 59.81.

Worrell, 21, is the first U.S. Olympic swimmer from University of Louisville. He won in 59.18, followed by Miller at 59.26.

“Those were two really good swims”, men’s head coach David Durden said.