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| Ashley
TWICHELL |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
United States
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 16 Jun 1989
in Mount Kisco, NY, USA |
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Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
TAC Titans: Cary, NC, USA |
Further Personal Information |
Higher education |
Psychology - Duke University: Durham, NC, USA |
General Interest |
Other sports |
She has represented the United States of America in swimming, and placed fourth in the 1500m freestyle event at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. She also competed in diving at Duke University in Durham, NC, United States of America. (goduke.com, 22 Nov 2011; SportsDeskOnline, 14 Feb 2020) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
"In college, I just loved the sport itself, being part of a team, with that incredible atmosphere and dynamic of growing up through college with these amazing people around me. Luckily, after four years at Duke, I was more in love with the sport than ever, and wanted to continue." |
General Interest |
Ambitions |
To work as a swimming coach after she retires from competing. (usaswimming.org, 24 Jun 2020; Instagram profile, 24 Mar 2020) |
Awards and honours |
She was named 2011 Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year by USA Swimming. (francrippen.org, 22 Nov 2011)
She was the first recipient of the Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation 'Work the Dream' grant. (francrippen.org, 22 Nov 2011) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began swimming at age two, and joined a little leagues team at age three. "I have been swimming since a young age, our parents had me and my three siblings on the local swim team, so I have been doing it since age three." |
International Debut |
Year |
2011 |
Competing for |
United States |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
English |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"I've always been extremely driven from within. While training is often extremely challenging, I love pushing myself to new limits, and exceeding expectations." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 12 Nov 2011) |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Cary, NC, USA |
Occupation |
Athlete |
International Debut |
Tournament |
World Championships |
Location |
Shanghai, CHN |
General Interest |
Injuries |
In July 2014 she underwent shoulder surgery to fix a recurring issue that had troubled her for more than a decade. (usaswimming.org, 24 Jun 2020; swimswam.com, 07 Jul 2014) |
Hobbies |
Reading, crafting, cooking, baking, going to the beach, spending time with her husband. (teamusa.org, 01 Jan 2019) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games. (espn.com, 20 Sep 2019) |
Famous relatives |
Her husband Derek Wall has been CEO of the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, NC, United States of America. (espn.com, 20 Sep 2019) |
Sport Specific Information |
Training Regime |
She trains at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, NC, United States of America. The facility is managed by her husband. |
General Interest |
Other information |
POOL BENEFITS
She says that combining pool and open water swimming has benefited her in both disciplines. "I have loved being able to bounce back and forth between competing in the pool and open water these past several years. I feel like they complement each other really well. Training for pool events sharpens my speed, which is necessary for the end of a 10km, which almost always comes down to a sprint finish. I also think these past nine years [speaking in 2020] of competing in open water has definitely made me mentally tougher, which of course is advantageous in the pool. There are so many different elements to account for in an open water race, and so many variables that are completely out of your control, that it has really forced me to work on my mental strength." (usaswimming.org, 04 Dec 2020)
FOURTH TIME IS THE CHARM
She qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games with a sixth-place finish in the 10km open water event at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. Her successful qualification came after failing to qualify for the previous three Olympic Games. "Ever since I graduated college, I have taken my swimming career year by year. Initially, when I decided to keep swimming post-collegiately, I believed I would just swim through the summer of 2011, and here I am, still competing [speaking in 2020]. At the end of each year, I have decided I was just not ready to step away and wanted to keep pushing. I kept reminding myself of all the work I put into reaching the Olympics, why I kept pursuing this goal and that I had a strong finish in me." (usaswimming.org, 24 Jun 2020; espn.com, 20 Sep 2019)
FUTURE PLANS
In 2020 she spoke about her plans to work as a swimming coach and establish a swim school following her retirement from competitive swimming. "I do have two strong passions that I am excited to pursue when that time comes [retirement]. The first is teaching children or people of any age how to swim. I have such a love and passion for the water, and I want to pass that on to others. More importantly, I want every kid and person out there to be water-safe. My husband and I have discussed plans to open up a swim school once I am done competing, and the thought of how many lives that could change really excites and motivates me." (usaswimming.org, 24 Jun 2020) |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Husband Derek Wall |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 4 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
1500m Freestyle |
15:54.19 |
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
800m Freestyle |
8:11.95 |
| 9 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
400m Freestyle |
4:05.27 |
Pan American Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2011 |
Guadalajara, MEX |
800m Freestyle |
8:38.38 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 7 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
5km |
58:00.0 |
| 6 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
10km |
1:54:50.5 |
| 3 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
5km - Team Relay |
53:59.0 |
| 10 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
10km |
2:00:41.3 |
| 1 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km |
59:07.0 |
| 2 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km - Team Relay |
54:18.1 |
| 9 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
25km |
5:20:20.8 |
| 6 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
5km |
59:10.0 |
| 5 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
5km - Team Time Trial |
55:50.6 |
| 3 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
5km |
1:00:40.2 |
| 1 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
5km - Team Time Trial |
57:00.6 |
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 27 |
2023 |
|
10km |
|
| 35 |
2023 |
Funchal, POR |
10km |
2:01:32.2 |
| 11 |
2023 |
Golfo Aranci, ITA |
10km |
1:56:35.4 |
| 53 |
2019 |
|
10km |
|
| 10 |
2019 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
2:04:01.6 |
| 10 |
2013 |
San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX |
10km |
2:10:13.50 |
| 4 |
2012 |
Lac-Mégantic, QC, CAN |
10km |
2:06:04.51 |
Pan Pacific Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 4 |
2018 |
Tokyo, JPN |
10km |
2:08:29.6 |
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