MINNEAPOLIS – Already a top candidate to represent Team USA at the Paralympic Games, Purdue women's swimming assistant coach Evan Austin officially clinched his trip to Tokyo and third Paralympic bid with three event victories at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials.
After a weekend showcase at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Austin was among the 34 swimmers selected to the U.S. Paralympic Team on Sunday. Competing as part of the Boilermaker Aquatics club, he won the 50-meter butterfly (29.57), 400-meter freestyle (4:50.20) and 200-meter individual medley (2:40.19) while demonstrating his versatility over three consecutive days in the Twin Cities.
Austin is the reigning world champion in the 50 fly, winning the event at the 2019 World Para Championships. He departs for Tokyo with Team USA on Aug. 14 and the opening ceremonies are set for Aug. 24. Austin's individual events should fall on Aug. 27 (200 IM), Aug. 29 (400 free) and Aug. 30 (50 fly).
Austin is competing in different events at the Paralympics this year. Previously, he raced in the 100-meter breaststroke and 4x100 free relay in first two appearances, adding the 100-meter fly and 4x100 medley relay to his schedule in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The men's medley relay is on the final day (Sept. 3) of the Paralympic Games so he remains a top candidate for that event as well this year.
The 50 fly was Austin's first event of the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials and he posted a winning time (29.57) that was better than his victorious mark in the event (30.07) at the Para World Series in April. His impressive start in Minneapolis coupled with his three victories among the international field in Texas solidified his place as one of Team USA's top medal hopefuls in the pool in Tokyo. He also took second in the 100 breast at the Para World Series.
Austin, who has spastic paraplegia, began assisting with Purdue women's swimming in the fall of 2019 and officially took on the volunteer assistant coach duties in time for the 2020-21 school year. The Indiana State alumnus now trains under the guidance of Purdue coach John Klinge at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center after a stint at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He's also multi-time medalist at the CanAm Para Swimming Championships and Pan Pacific Championships.
Austin is candidate for an ESPY this year, as one of four men's nominees for best athlete with a disability. Fans can vote at ESPN.com and the award winners will be announced on July 10 at 8 p.m. ET during the ABC telecast.
After a weekend showcase at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Austin was among the 34 swimmers selected to the U.S. Paralympic Team on Sunday. Competing as part of the Boilermaker Aquatics club, he won the 50-meter butterfly (29.57), 400-meter freestyle (4:50.20) and 200-meter individual medley (2:40.19) while demonstrating his versatility over three consecutive days in the Twin Cities.
Austin is the reigning world champion in the 50 fly, winning the event at the 2019 World Para Championships. He departs for Tokyo with Team USA on Aug. 14 and the opening ceremonies are set for Aug. 24. Austin's individual events should fall on Aug. 27 (200 IM), Aug. 29 (400 free) and Aug. 30 (50 fly).
Austin is competing in different events at the Paralympics this year. Previously, he raced in the 100-meter breaststroke and 4x100 free relay in first two appearances, adding the 100-meter fly and 4x100 medley relay to his schedule in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The men's medley relay is on the final day (Sept. 3) of the Paralympic Games so he remains a top candidate for that event as well this year.
The 50 fly was Austin's first event of the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials and he posted a winning time (29.57) that was better than his victorious mark in the event (30.07) at the Para World Series in April. His impressive start in Minneapolis coupled with his three victories among the international field in Texas solidified his place as one of Team USA's top medal hopefuls in the pool in Tokyo. He also took second in the 100 breast at the Para World Series.
Austin, who has spastic paraplegia, began assisting with Purdue women's swimming in the fall of 2019 and officially took on the volunteer assistant coach duties in time for the 2020-21 school year. The Indiana State alumnus now trains under the guidance of Purdue coach John Klinge at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center after a stint at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He's also multi-time medalist at the CanAm Para Swimming Championships and Pan Pacific Championships.
Austin is candidate for an ESPY this year, as one of four men's nominees for best athlete with a disability. Fans can vote at ESPN.com and the award winners will be announced on July 10 at 8 p.m. ET during the ABC telecast.