University of Minnesota Athletics
Plummer in Monday Final, Smith Back Wednesday
8/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
University of Minnesota alumnus David Plummer will contend for an Olympic medal Monday night. The backstroke specialist advanced through 100-meter preliminary heats and semifinals on Sunday. Monday's final is estimated to start at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Plummer won his prelims heat in the afternoon. In his first Olympics race, he posted a time of 53.19 seconds for the fifth seed entering semifinals. Plummer won the second semifinal Sunday night, touching the wall in 52.50. Overall, his time was second to fellow American Ryan Murphy by just .01. He
Returning Gophers senior Kierra Smith opened her Olympics career in the 100-meter breaststroke heats. She finished 18th overall in 1:07.41. Smith will return for her best event, the 200 breaststroke, beginning with Wednesday's prelims.
Olympic Gophers Notes
- At age 30, Plummer is the United States' oldest first-time swimming Olympian since 1904.
- Plummer would be Minnesota's first male United States medalist in aquatics since diver Craig Lincoln won bronze in 1972. He would technically be the Gophers' first swimmer to win a medal for the U.S., as Virgil Luken and Walt Richardson did not receive gold medals in 1964 for helping the 4x100 medley relay qualify for finals.
- Smith continues a legacy of Canadian Olympic breaststrokers coming through Minnesota. Jillian Tyler competed at both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Games.
.@davideplummer has little fans cheering for him at home!
Are you ready for a great race?! #SwimUnited #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/4rghEURuM7- USA Swimming (@USASwimming) August 8, 2016
@ders808 watching swimming in #RioOlympics2016. I keep thinking you will swim. Do you know David Plummer or Mitch Larkin? They're cool.
- Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) August 7, 2016
.@ryan_f_murphy 1st (52.49) and @davideplummer 2nd (52.50) advance to the finals of the 100m BK tomorrow! SwimUnited pic.twitter.com/7Ny7Doqljr
- USA Swimming (@USASwimming) August 8, 2016
Players Mentioned
