Mary Cain Becomes a Pro Triathlete, Claims She Could Probably Have Been a D1 Swimmer

You're talkin about a u.s. world champion

Someone who placed top 10 at the world championships

As well as a junior world champion title

Obviously she could easily swim Division 1

I mean what are there probably about 4,000 slots for division 1 swimmers on the women's level maybe more

I think it's pretty safe to assume that she's naturally a better athlete and has better aerobic conditioning than 90% of these athletes

Your incredulity is very misplaced

Sure maybe she's no longer a world-class athlete and no longer even a strong professional athlete

But I think it's still safe to say that she could find a place in one of those 4000 slots and probably out-compete some of those girls

Also you're talking about someone who is pretty much hands-down the best high school athlete ever

Just look at the record book she has every middle distance and distance record by a long shot except for the 5K

Let me know the next time a seventeen-year-old girl comes close to running a 4:24 MIle. There's a good chance it won't happen for the rest of this century

And her 235 1K isn't too far off the American record also ran at 17

OP,

Good freakin' grief man, what do you have missing in your life that you need to tear down Mary Cain?

As someone has already pointed out, she almost assuredly could have been a D1 swimmer...she had experience as a competitive swimmer before she went all in on running. Not all D1 swimmers are all that great, and she was a superb athlete.

Also, you make this thread in some way to just state that she's full of herself, but here's a VERY MODEST quote from her in the very thing you linked to:

“It would be a huge disservice for all of the women who are already out there kicking butt for me to say, ‘I can swim and run. I’m going to be really good at this,’” she said. “I have a lot to learn and far too much respect for athletes who have worked tirelessly in the sport for me to just think I can jump in and be the next best thing.”

Good luck to her...even is she doesn't set the world on fire, I hope she finds some satisfaction in it.

Was she claiming she's a pro triathlete? Is she not racing to try to get her pro card?

Anyway, as she continued to mature it was clear she couldn't run world class times anymore while staying healthy. I applaud her willingness to give another sport a shot and she's probably having a lot of fun doing something new where she can improve and set personal bests again, which was not going to happen anymore for her with running unless she moved up to distances she had previously never competed at.

I have a feeling she's going to look like a total Fred on the bike, but hey that means she'll fit right in with the tri crowd.

I hear you, she's talented, but keep in mind a 16 year old ran faster than Cain just one year later. So yeah, we can very much expect it's going to happen plenty of times if competitive running is still a sport the rest of this century.

She's had some exceptional accomplishments, undoubtedly. But will Al Sal get the blame when she performs poorly?

I wish her the best and hope her training regimen is in line with a long term goal. I think maybe she'll be more focused, being around people and an environment she is familiar with .

I hope she does well too.

Unlike running swimming requires the fine running of a skill. I have no doubt she has had the aerobic fitness to be a D1 swimmer but the level of skill needed to be as accomplished at swimming as she was at running isn't something you can assume.

I was talking about in the United States. With other countries especially African countries claimed ages are very dubious

I mean yeah maybe in the world someone will equal her time but in the US her time are way above everybody else

Look even as good as athing mu was , she couldn't break her High School record in the 800 so it kind of shows you , and that wasn't even her best event

She has ever hs record from 800 through 2 mile, that's 5 events!

Making the transition a little earlier than did Webb. Good luck!

Don't you have anything better to do with your sad and pathetic life than to bag on Mary Cain?

Those who can, do

Those who can't, tri

But can she ride a bicycle?