Houseman qualifies for Olympic Trials

Kevin Houseman of the Bainbridge Island Swim Club has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in the 100-meter breaststroke.

The Bainbridge swimmer, who is also a star standout on the Bainbridge Spartans swim team, made his qualifying mark during the 12th annual Dick LaFave Long Course Kickoff meet at the King County Aquatic Center in late April.

Houseman dropped more than a second from his best time to swim the event in 1:01.97, more than a full second below the qualifying standard of 1:03.29. As a result, Houseman will join the fastest swimmers in the United States at the prestigious Olympic Trials next June in Omaha, Nebraska where he will compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team that will race in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan about one month later.

The Bainbridge High senior has had an outstanding season, and shattered a 21-year-old Washington state record in the 100-yard breaststroke in February.

Houseman joined the Bainbridge Island Swim Club six years ago and has been training under the club’s head coach, Carolyn Ackerley.

“It was satisfying to see Kevin achieve this important step toward his ultimate goal of competing in the Olympic Games,” Ackerley said.

“Kevin has an unusual combination of natural talent and a strong work ethic, but reaching for extraordinary goals takes a great deal more than that. Kevin is developing an inner confidence that will steel him for competing with the fastest swimmers in the world,” she added. “His BISC teammates, along with his parents and little sister, provide a foundation of trust and support that will support Kevin in his quest.”

This fall, Houseman will be attending college at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois and will be joining the university’s swim program.