Shaine Casas

Shaine Casas is an American professional swimmer. He was national champion in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2019 National Championships. In 2021 he was a three-time NCAA champion, once in the 100-yard backstroke, once in the 200-yard backstroke, and once in the 200-yard individual medley. For the 2021—2022 US National Team he made the team in three individual events, the 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, and 100-meter butterfly. Previously, he held spots on both the 2019—2020 and the 2020—2021 National Teams in the 100-meter backstroke and the 200-meter backstroke.

Shaine Casas
Personal information
National team United States
Born (1999-12-25) December 25, 1999[1]
San Diego, California, United States[1]
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, butterfly, freestyle, individual medley
ClubAggie Swim Club[2]
College teamTexas A&M[1]
CoachKenneth Holmes[2]

Early life and education

Casas was born in San Diego, California on December 25, 1999. His mother is Monica Epling. When he was 7 years old he began swimming competitively.[1][3] He attended McAllen High School in McAllen, Texas where he swam for his high school team and was the 6A State champion in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly in 2017.[3] He graduated from McAllen High School in 2018.[1] Later in 2018, Casas started competing collegiately for Texas A&M University where he also commenced studies for an undergraduate degree majoring in biology.[1]

Career

2019 National Championships
2019 National Championships
100 m backstroke 52.72
200 m backstroke 1:55.79
200 m individual medley 1:58.83

At the 2019 National Championships, an international swimming competition held July to August 2019 in Stanford, California, Casas won the national title in the 100-meter backstroke.[4][5] His time of 52.72 made him the fifth fastest swimmer in the event globally for the year, and the seventh fastest American in the event in history.[6][7][8]

In the 200-meter individual medley Casas took second place, finishing 1.07 seconds behind 12 time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte.[4][9] Casas also finished in second place in the 200-meter backstroke.[4][7] Swimming the anchoring leg of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, Casas took third place with his relay teammates Steven Richardson, Mark Theall, and Adam Koster.[4] Casas' swims in the 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, and 200-meter individual medley were all qualifying times for the 2020 US Olympic Trials.[10] Additionally, his times from the National Championships earned him spots on the 2019—2020 and 2020—2021 US National Teams in the 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter backstroke events.[5][11]

2020

In June 2020, Casas was diagnosed with COVID-19.[12] Casas recovered from COVID-19 and in November 2020 he swam a 43.87 in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2020 Art Adamson Invitational becoming the all-time third fastest person to swim the event.[12][13] A little over a week earlier, Casas swam the unofficial fastest time swum by an American swimmer in history in the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 46.33 seconds at an intrasquad meet hosted by Texas A&M.[14] His start to the 2020−2021 swim season in late 2020 along with his performances before competition shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 earned him the Swammy Award for "NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year".[15][16]

2021 NCAA Championships
2021 NCAA Championships
200 yd individual medley 1:39.53
100 yd backstroke 44.20
200 yd backstroke 1:35.75
4x200 yd freestyle relay 6:10.79

At the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina in March 2021, Casas won three individual events, the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard backstroke, and 200-yard backstroke.[17][18] His first individual title of the meet in the 200-yard individual medley was the first men's NCAA individual title won by a swimmer for Texas A&M.[17] He also took third place with his relay teammates in the 4x200-yard freestyle relay.[18] In his other events Casas placed fifth in the 4x50-yard freestyle relay, ninth in the 4x50-yard medley relay, and 13th in the 4x100-yard medley relay.[19]

Casas was chosen as the SEC Male Swimmer of the Year by the Southeastern Conference, a first for Texas A&M Aggies.[20][21] For the 2020—2021 collegiate swimming season, he was also the first swimmer for Texas A&M to receive the CSCAA Division-I Men's Swimmer of the Year award.[21]

2020 US Olympic Trials

Casas qualified to compete in the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials, the meet determining US Olympic swim team members for the 2020 Summer Olympics, in a total of seven events, the same number as Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky. Casas qualified in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, 100-meter butterfly, and 200-meter individual medley.[22] The 2020 Olympic Trials were his first US Olympic Trials.[2] Leading up to the Olympic Trials, where the top two finishers qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games, Casas was one of the top two picks for Sports Illustrated in both the 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter backstroke.[23] He was also chosen by NBC Sports as one of their top two picks for the 200-meter backstroke based on 2021 performances from U.S. swimmers in the race.[24]

At the US Olympic Trials held in Omaha, Nebraska and postponed to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Casas competed in two events.[25] In the 100-meter backstroke he swam a 52.76 in the final, finished in third place behind Ryan Murphy and Hunter Armstrong, and did not make the 2020 US Olympic team in the event.[25][26] In his second event, the 200-meter backstroke, he finished in sixth place in the final with a time of 1:57.64 and did not qualify for the US Olympic team.[25]

2021 Texas Senior Circuit

Less than a week after the end of the 2020 US Olympic Trials, Casas swam personal best times in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly at the 2021 Texas Senior Circuit long course meet in College Station, Texas. He swam a 48.91 in the 100-meter freestyle and a 51.22 in the 100-meter butterfly. His time in the 100-meter butterfly made him the all-time ninth fastest American swimmer in the event.[27] His swims throughout the 2021 year to September qualified him for the 2021—2022 US National Team in three individual events, the 100-meter butterfly, 100-meter backstroke, and 200-meter backstroke.[28][29]

Post-Olympic Trials upheaval

Following his performance at the 2020 Olympic Trials and dropping time at the Texas Senior Circuit, Casas decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal in August as he was unsure of if he wanted to continue competing collegiately with the Texas A&M Aggies.[19][30] In September, Casas revealed he was also considering turning professional.[31] On October 21, he announced an intermediate step in his decision making, remaining at Texas A&M to train with the professional group of swimmers as he prepared for the 2021 Short Course World Championships.[32] As part of his racing preparation for the World Championships, Casas swam a time of 19.51 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and a 1:42.96 in the 200-yard individual medley on the first day, November 17, of the 2021 Art Adamson Invitational, choosing to compete in exhibition unattached to any school.[33][34] Later during the invitational, Casas swam a 1:39.95 in the 200-yard individual medley in a time trial, making his the first swimmer in American history to swim the event in less than 1:40.00 five or more times.[35]

2021 World Short Course Championships

Casas entered to compete in all the individual backstroke events, 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter distances, at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in December.[36]

Highlights
  • 2017 Texas 6A high school state champion: 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly.[3]
  • 2019 US national champion: 100-meter backstroke.[4]
  • 2019—2020 US national team member: 100-backstroke, 200-backstroke.[11]
  • 2020 Swammy Award: NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year.[15][16]
  • 2020—2021 US national team member: 100-backstroke, 200-backstroke.[5]
  • 2021 NCAA champion: 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke.[17]
  • First NCAA national champion for Texas A&M University in mens swimming: 2021, 200-yard individual medley.[17][21]
  • 2020—2021 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Male Swimmer of the Year.[21]
  • First SEC Male Swimmer of the Year for Texas A&M University: 2020—2021.[21]
  • 2020—2021 CSCAA Division-I Men's Swimmer of the Year.[21]
  • First CSCAA Division-I Men's Swimmer of the Year for Texas A&M University: 2020—2021.[21]
  • 2021—2022 US national team member: 100-backstroke, 200-backstroke, 100-butterfly.[28][29]

Personal bests

Long course meters (50 m pool)
Event Time Meet Location Date Ref
100 m freestyle 48.91 2021 Texas Senior Circuit College Station, Texas June 2021 [27]
100 m backstroke 52.72 2019 National Championships Stanford, California August 3, 2019 [4]
200 m backstroke 1:55.79 2019 National Championships Stanford, California August 1, 2019 [4]
100 m butterfly 51.22 2021 Texas Senior Circuit College Station, Texas June 2021 [27]
200 m individual medley 1:58.54 2019 Art Adamson Invitational College Station, Texas November 21, 2019 [2]

Awards and honors

See also

References
  1. "Shaine Casas - Men's Swimming and Diving - Texas A&M Athletics". Texas A&M University. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  2. "Shaine Casas - McAllen, Texas - Bio". USA Swimming. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  3. "Shaine Casas Bio". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  4. "2019 USA National Championships: Results Book". Omega Timing. August 4, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  5. "Men's National Team: 2020-2021 Roster". USA Swimming. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. Hodges, Coleman (August 3, 2019). "Shaine Casas: "I'm A Butterflier, It Just Hasn't Come Out Yet"". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  7. OlympicTalk (August 3, 2019). "Reece Whitley, long a standout swimmer, breaks through at nationals". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  8. Rosen, Karen (August 4, 2019). "Surprising Even Himself, Shaine Casas Makes A Name For Himself As One Of World's Fastest Backstrokers". TeamUSA.org. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  9. "Lochte wins nationals 200 IM after 14-month ban". ESPN. August 4, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. "Casas Highlights 18 Qualified A&M Swimmers at U.S. Olympic Team Trials". KBTX-TV. June 4, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  11. Hart, Torrey (September 4, 2019). "115 Swimmers Selected To USA Swimming's 2019-2020 National Team". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  12. SwimSwam (December 20, 2020). "SSPC: Shaine Casas on Having COVID, Rolling Ankle & Still Logging Historical Swims". YouTube. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  13. Carlson, Reid (November 19, 2020). "Shaine Casas Blasts 43.87 100 Backstroke to Become 3rd-Fastest All-Time (Video)". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  14. Ross, Andy (December 11, 2020). "Shaine Casas Rips Unofficial Fastest Time Ever in SCY 100 IM". Swimming World. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  15. Gibbs, Robert (December 21, 2020). "2020 Swammy Awards: NCAA Male Swimmer of the Year - Shaine Casas". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  16. Perreault, Rachel (December 30, 2020). "Four Aggies Honored by SwimSwam". Texas A&M Aggies. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  17. D'Addona, Dan (March 27, 2021). "Shaine Casas Delivers After Two Years of Build Up: 'The Pressure Was Incredible'". Swimming World. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  18. "2021 NCAA Division I Mens Championships Full Results". Swimming World. March 27, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  19. Sutherland, James (September 29, 2021). "College Swimming Previews: One Casas-Sized Hole To Fill For #10 Texas A&M Men". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  20. De George, Matthew (April 14, 2021). "Shaine Casas, Rhyan White Named Swimmers of the Year at All-SEC Awards". Swimming World. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  21. Guenther, Emily (April 14, 2021). "Casas Earns SEC Male Swimmer of the Year". Texas A&M University. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  22. Anderson, Jared (April 10, 2020). "Current U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifiers By Event, Age, LSC & More". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  23. Forde, Pat (June 10, 2021). "Predicting Results for Each Event of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  24. Zaccardi, Nick (June 10, 2021). "U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials: men's event-by-event previews". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  25. "2020 Olympic Trials Wave II Results". USA Swimming. June 20, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  26. Sutherland, James (June 15, 2021). "2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II: Day 3 Finals Live Recap". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  27. Lepesant, Madeleine (June 27, 2021). "Olympic Trials 3rd-Place Finisher Shaine Casas Swims 51.22 100 Fly 1 Week Later". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  28. USA Swimming (September 10, 2021). "USA Swimming National Team Roster 2021-22". Swimming World. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  29. Lepesant, Anne (September 10, 2021). "USA Swimming Names 114 Athletes To The 2021-22 National Team Roster". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  30. Sutherland, James (August 30, 2021). "3-Time NCAA Champion Shaine Casas Will Transfer Out Of Texas A&M". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  31. Sutherland, James (September 24, 2021). "Three-Time NCAA Champion Shaine Casas Reveals Plans To Turn Pro". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  32. Keith, Braden (October 21, 2021). "Shaine Casas Returns To Training At Texas A&M With Pro Group, For Now". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  33. Sutherland, James (November 17, 2021). "Curry, Johansson Put Up NCAA-Leading Times To Open Art Adamson Invite". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  34. Rieder, David (November 17, 2021). "Shaine Casas Swims 1:42.96 200 IM at Art Adamson Invitational". Swimming World. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  35. Sutherland, James (November 18, 2021). "Shaine Casas Rips 1:39.95 200 IM Time Trial At Art Adamson Finals". SwimSwam. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  36. "2021 FINA Short Course World Championships Roster". USA Swimming. 28 October 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  37. "2021 SEC Swimming & Diving Awards Announced". Southeastern Conference. April 15, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  38. Anderson, Jared (January 29, 2021). "SwimSwam's Top 100 For 2021: Men's #50 — #41". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
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