Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte Lead US Swim Team at 2011 FINA World Championship

Olympic gold medal swimmers Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin, and Rebecca Soni will lead the USA Swimming FINA World Championship Team in the last major international swim meet before the 2012 Olympic Games. USA Swimming will send 42 swimmers to the FINA World Championship in Shanghai, China, July 24-31. Michael Phelps will swim the 200 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM; Ryan Lochte will swim the 200 Free, 200 Back, 200 IM, 400IM; Natalie Coughlin will swim the 100 Free, 100 Back; Rebecca Soni will swim the 100 Breast and 200 Breast. All are eligible to swim on FINA World Championship relays for the USA Swimming Team.

The 2011 FINA World Championship is the last major international swim meet prior to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It will undoubtedly serve as an indicator of the performance we can expect from the U.S. team in the London Olympics. For example, in 2007, the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia was a close indicator of the success the USA swim team would see at the 2008 Beijing Olympics:

2007 World Championship: The USA Swimming medal count in Melbourne was 36 ( 20 gold, 13 silver, 3 bronze).
2008 Olympics: USA swimmers earned 31 total medals (12 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze).

2007 World Championship: Michael Phelps won 7 gold medals.
2008 Olympics: Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals.

2007 World Championship: Natalie Coughlin won 5 medals.
2008 Olympics: Natalie Coughlin won 6 medals.

2007 World Championship: Ryan Lochte won 5 medals.
2008 Olympics: Ryan Lochte won 4 medals.

The U.S. roster is comprised of the nation's top swimmers, including a total of 25 Olympians. The U.S. men will be led by the 2008 Olympic men's team head coach and University of Texas men's head coach Eddie Reese, while the women will be coached by University of Arizona head coach Frank Busch. Busch was also a member of the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic coaching staff.

"We are extremely excited about the depth of talent on the 2011 World Championships roster," said USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus. "As the best possible indicator of our performance at the 2012 Olympic Games, we are anxious to see fast swimming and strong performances from both the veteran leadership and young talent on the team."

The U.S. swimmers were selected to compete at the FINA World Championships qualified based upon their performance at the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships, which were held August 3-7, 2010 and the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships, which took place August 18-21, 2010.

The team will also feature three-time Olympians Amanda Beard (Irvine, Calif.) and Jason Lezak (Irvine, Calif.) 2009 World Championship medalists Dana Vollmer (Granbury, Texas), Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif.), Eric Shanteau (Lilburn, Ga.) and Ariana Kukors (Auburn, Wash.).

Pool competition will take place July 24-31 while the open water competition will be held July 19-23. The U.S. Open Water World Championship team will be selected from the 2011 10K Open Water National Championships and Team Trials in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on June 10.

USA Swimming 2011 FINA Swimming World Championship Team

Women

• Amanda Beard; 100, 200 Breast
• Elizabeth Beisel; 200 Back, 400 IM
• Natalie Coughlin; 100 Free, 100 Back
• Teresa Crippen; 200 Fly
• Melissa Franklin; 200 Back, 4X100 Free Relay
• Jessica Hardy; 50 Free, 4X100 Free Relay
• Kathleen Hersey; 200 Fly
• Katie Hoff; 400 Free, 4X200 Free Relay
• Kara Lynn Joyce; 4X100 Free Relay
• Dagny Knutson; 4X200 Free Relay
• Ariana Kukors; 200 IM
• Caitlin Leverenz; 200, 400 IM
• Christine Magnuson; 100 Fly
• Elizabeth Pelton; 100 Back
• Allison Schmitt; 200 Free
• Morgan Scroggy; 4X200 Free Relay
• Rebecca Soni; 100 Breast, 200 Breast
• Chloe Sutton; 400 Free, 800 Free
• Jasmine Tosky; 4X200 Free Relay
• Dana Vollmer; 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Fly
• Amanda Weir; 50 Free, 4X100 Free Relay
• Kate Ziegler; 800 Free

Men (pending 50 free results)

• Nathan Adrian; 50, 100 Free
• Mike Alexandrov; 100 Breast
• Ricky Berens; 4X200 Free Relay
• Tyler Clary; 200 Back, 200 Fly, 400 IM
• Conor Dwyer; 4X200 Free Relay
• Mark Gangloff; 100 Breast
• Charlie Houchin; 400 Free
• Chad LaTourette; 1500 Free
• Jason Lezak; 100 Free
• Ryan Lochte; 200 Free, 200 Back, 200 IM, 400IM, 4X100 Fr
• Tyler McGill; 100 Fly
• Michael Phelps; 200 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM
• David Plummer; 100 Back
• Scot Robison; 4X100 Free Relay
• Eric Shanteau; 200 Breast
• Scott Spann; 200 Breast
• Nick Thoman; 100 Back
• Peter Vanderkaay; 400 Free, 1500 Free, 4X200 Free Relay
• David Walters; 4X100 Free Relay and 4X200 Free Relay
• Garrett Weber-Gale; 4X100 Free Relay

Staff

• Head Men's Coach: Eddie Reese
• Head Women's Coach: Frank Busch
• Assistant Men's Coaches: Gregg Troy, Bob Bowman, Jon Urbanchek
• Assistant Women's Coaches: Teri McKeever, Sean Hutchison, Jack Bauerle