With the conclusion of the 2009 USA Swimming ConocoPhillips National Championships and World Championship Trials, TYR congratulates Mary DeScenza, Matt Grevers, and Amanda Weir for their strong performances throughout the past week claiming individual and relay spots on the US World Championship team headed to Rome, Italy for the championships scheduled to begin July 22nd. Competing from July 7th to July 11th, the three sponsored athletes had tremendous success from the start and as a result will race in a total 10 combined events at the championships. Three-time 2008 Olympic medalist Grevers will represent the US in the men’s 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 400m medley relay, and 400m freestyle relay. At the national championships, he had two personal best times, most notably in the 100m freestyle. Wearing the new TYR Tracer Sayonara, Grevers came out of lane eight in the finals to secure a spot on the 400m freestyle relay team by touching the wall in 48.27, capturing fourth. Coming off of an impressive year of swimming that included being named the 2008-2009 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series winner, DeScenza added yet another achievement, qualifying to compete in the stars and stripes in Rome swimming the women’s 200m butterfly. Wearing the TYR Tracer Rise, she went a lifetime best by using her signature back-end speed to come from behind to clinch a second place finish in 2:07.13. “I am so excited I am going to Rome,” DeScenza exclaimed. “It has been a really hard week and I am happy I was able to come out on top!” Weir is no stranger to competing for the U.S. at the World Championships. The two-time Olympic medalist made her first appearance on the World Championship team in 2005 when she took away two medals as a relay member. At the 2007 World Championships, she earned three medals with team USA, setting an American record as a member of the 400m freestyle relay team. At this past week’s national championships, Weir wore the new Tracer A7 and had stand-out results. With a lifetime best time by dipping below the 25 second barrier in the 50m freestyle, she secured her first individual spot on the championship team. In the 100m freestyle, she came from behind on the back half and claimed second-adding another event to her meet line-up. In total, she will represent the US in the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle as well as the 400m freestyle relay and 400m individual medley relay. “I have never done that much swimming at worlds before so it should be fun,” she said. “I’m really excited for a chance to prove myself again and get back up there on top.” In addition to the three athletes representing TYR at the championships, swim coaches Bill Rose of the Mission Viejo Nadadores, Sean Hutchison of King Aquatics club, and diving coach Jeff Huber of Indiana University will guide team USA as members of the coaching staff. Hutchison will bring extensive experience on the coaching level after most recently serving as assistant women’s coach for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Rome. His trip to Rome will be his second time serving on the World Championship coaching staff, after previously being named assistant coach of the 2007 team. Not new to coaching at international competitions, Rose has been a USA coach for multiple World University Games, Pan American Games, and USA Open Water teams. He successfully placed two athletes on this year’s world championship team. “I feel absolutely great about being asked to coach for the USA, “said Rose. “The whole key is any time I can be there representing the United States and taking in that kind of atmosphere there is nothing better. That’s the gold medal coaches get. We don’t get anything else. We get that and I win.” Having placed one of his divers on every Olympic team since 1992, Huber is recognized globally for his coaching talent. He has been the USA diving coach for the past three Olympic Games, and will use his expertise to guide the US championship team against the world’s best divers. One of his own Indiana University divers will compete for the team in Rome. Be sure to check back to TYR.com throughout the entire 2009 World Championships to follow Grever’s, DeScenza’s, and Weir’s performances as they go for gold in Rome. Receive updates quickly by adding your email address to the TYR mailing list provided on the top of this email and on the site’s homepage.