Elizabeth Beisel

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Elizabeth Beisel

| image = Elizabeth Beisel (6404091381).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Beisel in 2011

| fullname = Elizabeth Lyon Beisel

| nicknames =

| national_team = {{USA}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|8|18|mf=y}}

| birth_place = {{nowrap|Saunderstown, Rhode Island, U.S.}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 5 ft 6 in

| weight = 130 lb

| strokes = Backstroke, individual medley

| club = Bluefish Swim Club, Gator Swim Club (Florida)

| collegeteam = University of Florida

| medaltemplates =

}}

Elizabeth Lyon Beisel ({{IPAc-en|'|b|aɪ|z|ə|l}}; born August 18, 1992) is an American competition swimmer who specializes in backstroke and individual medley events. She has won a total of nine medals in major international competition, four gold, one silver, and four bronze spanning the Olympics, World Aquatics, and the Pan Pacific championships. Beisel competed in the 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley events at the 2008 Summer Olympics, placing fifth and fourth, respectively, in the world. She won the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley and bronze in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She also finished sixth in the 400-meter individual medley at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

On September 25, 2021, she became the first woman to ever swim to Block Island. The 20 km swim raised funds for cancer research and clinical trials.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/elizabeth-beisel-honored-and-humbled-to-become-1st-woman-to-complete-historic-block-island-swim/|title=Elizabeth Beisel Becomes First Woman to Complete Historic Block Island Swim: 'Humbled and Honored'}}

In August 2020, SPIRE Institute and Academy signed Biesel to become a swimming ambassador. She will be joining Caeleb Dressel in representing the school. The goal of the partnership with SPIRE and the ambassadors is to emphasize the development of peak performance in athletics, academics, character and life.{{Cite web |last=De George |first=Matthew |date=August 18, 2020 |title=Swimmers: Achieve Your Peak Potential At SPIRE Institute and Academy |url=https://swimswam.com/swimmers-achieve-your-peak-potential-at-spire-institute-and-academy/ |access-date=October 1, 2020 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=September 27, 2020|title=U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte discusses why the Spire Institute & Academy is the perfect place to train athletes for success|url=https://www.swimmersdaily.com/2020/09/27/u-s-olympic-swimmer-ryan-lochte-discusses-why-the-spire-institute-academy-is-the-perfect-place-to-train-athletes-for-success/|access-date=October 1, 2020|website=Swimmer's Daily|language=en-US}}

Early life

Beisel was born in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, in 1992,U.S. Olympic Committee, Swimming, Athletes, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100309034058/http://swimming.teamusa.org/athletes/elizabeth-beisel Elizabeth Beisel]. Retrieved August 7, 2010. the daughter of Ted and Joan Beisel.Randal Edgar, "[http://www.projo.com/ri/northkingstown/content/BEISEL_FUNDRAISER_08-08-08_PHB53FU_v112.4040bd9.html Hundreds will join Beisel's dad in watching Olympics on TV]," The Providence Journal (August 8, 2008). Retrieved August 7, 2010. She graduated from North Kingstown High School in North Kingstown, Rhode Island in 2010. From the age of 12 through high school, she competed for the Bluefish Swim Club while training under coach Chuck Batchelor.Bob Schaller, "[http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&ItemId=5934&mid=12660 20 Questions Tuesday: Chuck Batchelor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305132332/http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&ItemId=5934&mid=12660 |date=March 5, 2016 }}," USA Swimming (March 18, 2014). Retrieved October 3, 2015. Beisel became a member of the U.S. national swim team when she was 13 years old.

Beisel's great uncle, Warren William Krech, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was called the "King of Pre-code Hollywood." He was also one of the original fourteen members of the Screen Actors Guild.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929925/|title=Warren William|website=IMDb }}

College career

Beisel accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where she swam for coach Gregg Troy's Florida Gators swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 2011 to 2014."[http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/22493.asp?q=%3Ci%3ESwimming%20World%3C/i%3E%20Six%20Star%20Elizabeth%20Beisel%20Makes%20College%20Decision Swimming World Six Star Elizabeth Beisel Makes College Decision] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203090211/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/22493.asp?q=%3Ci%3ESwimming%20World%3C%2Fi%3E%20Six%20Star%20Elizabeth%20Beisel%20Makes%20College%20Decision |date=February 3, 2014 }}," Swimming World Magazine (October 31, 2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010.GatorZone.com, Women's Swimming & Diving, 2011–12 Roster, [http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopModules/BioViewManaged.aspx?personid=07f4d985-95ef-4e5f-a14e-fb25c8426300&TabId=857&Mid=8959 Elizabeth Beisel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322224638/http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopModules/BioViewManaged.aspx?personid=07f4d985-95ef-4e5f-a14e-fb25c8426300&TabId=857&Mid=8959 |date=March 22, 2012 }}. Retrieved July 7, 2012. She won nine Southeastern Conference (SEC) individual championships, and was honored as the SEC Female Swimmer of the Year in 2012. Beisel also won the NCAA individual championships in the 200-yard backstroke in 2012, and the 400-yard individual medley in 2013, leading the Lady Gators to a seventh, tenth, sixth and sixth-place team finishes at the NCAA national championships. She received eighteen All-American honors and earned first-team Academic All-America recognition.

International career

=2007 World Championships=

At the age of 14, Beisel competed in the 2007 World Championships. She advanced to the semi-finals and placed twelfth overall in the 200-meter backstroke.Omega Timekeeping, 12th FINA World Championships, [https://web.archive.org/web/20070406024438/http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2007/melbourne2007/F74_ResSummary_231_Semifinals_Women_200_Back.pdf Women's 200m Backstroke Semifinals]. (March 30, 2007). Retrieved August 7, 2010.

=2008 Summer Olympics=

At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, Beisel finished second to Katie Hoff in the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:32.87. Hoff went on to set the world record in that race.Omega Timekeeping, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, [https://web.archive.org/web/20081011043549/http://omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2008/Omaha_b_2008/C73A1_Res1Heat_104_Finals_1_Women_400_Medley.pdf Women's 400m Individual Medley Final]. (June 29, 2008). Retrieved August 13, 2010. In the 200-meter backstroke, Beisel finished second to Margaret Hoelzer, who also set the world record.Omega Timekeeping, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, [http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2008/Omaha_b_2008/C73A1_Res1Heat_124_Finals_1_Women_200_Back.pdf Women's 200m Backstroke Final] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011181432/http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2008/Omaha_b_2008/C73A1_Res1Heat_124_Finals_1_Women_200_Back.pdf |date=October 11, 2010 }}. (July 5, 2008). Retrieved August 13, 2010.

As a 15-year-old, Beisel was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic swim team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.Karen Crouse, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/07/sports/olympics/07swimming.html?scp=11&sq=Elizabeth%20Beisel&st=cse Flaws Are Revealed at Unforgiving Trials]," The New York Times (July 7, 2008). Retrieved August 7, 2010. Beisel clocked the best time in the preliminaries of the 400-meter individual medley, and finished fourth in the final with a time of 4:34.24.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/elizabeth-beisel-1.html |title=Elizabeth Beisel |access-date=August 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102192259/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/elizabeth-beisel-1.html |archive-date=November 2, 2012}} She had the second fastest time in the semi-finals of the 200-meter backstroke, and finished fifth in the final.Christopher Clarey, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/sports/olympics/16pool.html?scp=7&sq=Elizabeth%20Beisel&st=cse Zimbabwe’s Coventry Defends Title in Backstroke]," The New York Times (August 15, 2008). Retrieved August 7, 2010.

=2009 World Championships=

At the 2009 National Championships, Beisel competed in four individual events and qualified to swim in two finals. In the 400-meter individual medley, Beisel edged Julia Smit with a time of 4:36.31.Omega Timekeeping, 2009 Conoco Phillips National Championships, [http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Indy2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_118_Finals_1_Women_400_Medley.pdf Women's 400m Individual Medley Final] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806214224/http://omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Indy2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_118_Finals_1_Women_400_Medley.pdf |date=August 6, 2009 }}. (July 9, 2009). Retrieved August 13, 2010. In the 200-meter backstroke, Beisel finished first with a time of 2:08.80. Margaret Hoelzer, the Olympic silver medalist in Beijing, finished third.Omega Timekeeping, 2009 Conoco Phillips National Championships, [http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Indy2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_123_Finals_1_Women_200_Back.pdf Women's 200m Backstroke Final] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806214229/http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Indy2009/C73A1_Res1Heat_123_Finals_1_Women_200_Back.pdf |date=August 6, 2009 }}. (July 10, 2009). Retrieved August 13, 2010.

In her first event at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, the 200-meter backstroke, Beisel finished third in the final with a time of 2:06.39, just missing Hoelzer's American record of 2:06.09.W. Zachary Malinowski, "[http://www.projo.com/sports/content/projo_20090802_elizabeth_beisel.9aff3fe2.html Elizabeth Beisel wins the bronze in the 200 backstroke at World Swim Championships]," The Providence Journal (August 1, 2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010. In the 400-meter individual medley final, Beisel placed fifth.Robert Lee, "[http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/08/north-kingstown-18.html North Kingstown's Beisel finishes fifth in the 400-meter IM in Rome] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724080125/http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/08/north-kingstown-18.html |date=July 24, 2011 }}," The Providence Journal (August 2, 2009). Retrieved August 7, 2010.

=2010 Pan Pacific Championships=

At the 2010 National Championships, Beisel competed in two events. In the 400-meter individual medley, the defending national champion slipped to fourth place.Omega Timekeeping, 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships,[http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2010/IrvineUS/C73A1_Res1Heat_118_Finals_1_Women_400_Medley.pdf Women's 400m Individual Medley Final]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. (August 5, 2010). Retrieved August 13, 2010. In the 200-meter backstroke, Beisel successfully defended her national title, finishing first with a time of 2:08.50.Omega Timekeeping, 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships,[http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2010/IrvineUS/C73A1_Res1Heat_123_Finals_1_Women_200_Back.pdf Women's 200m Backstroke Final]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. (August 6, 2010). Retrieved August 13, 2010.

At the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Beisel won two gold medals. Her first gold medal came in the 400-meter individual medley, in which she finished first with a time of 4:34.69. It was three seconds faster than the second-place finisher and was Beisel's first international gold medal.Omega Timekeeping, 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships,[http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2010/IrvinePPchampionships/C73A1_Res1Heat_115_Finals_1_Women_400_Medley.pdf Women's 400m Individual Medley Final]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. (August 19, 2010). Retrieved August 21, 2010. In the 200-meter backstroke, Beisel won her second gold medal with a time of 2:07.83.Omega Timekeeping, 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships,[http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2010/IrvinePPchampionships/C73A1_Res1Heat_125_Finals_1_Women_200_Back.pdf Women's 200m Backstroke Final]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. (August 20, 2010). Retrieved August 21, 2010.

=2011 World Aquatics Championships=

At the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, China, Beisel competed in two events, the 200-meter backstroke and the 400-meter individual medley. After qualifying third in both the heats (2:08.40) and semi-finals (2:07.82) of the 200-meter backstroke, Beisel finished in fifth place in the final with a time of 2:08.16. In her second and final event the 400-meter individual medley, Beisel won the gold in a time of 4:31.78. In the heats, Beisel posted the top qualifying time with a 4:34.95. Her nearest competitor, Hannah Miley, was over two seconds behind. This was Beisel's first individual title at a World Aquatics Championships."[http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/27774.asp FINA World Championships, Swimming: Elizabeth Beisel Smashes Textile Best in 400 IM Triumph] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918062824/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/27774.asp |date=September 18, 2012 }}," Swimming World Magazine (July 31, 2011). Retrieved August 5, 2011.

=2012 Summer Olympics=

At the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Beisel qualified for the U.S. Olympic team by placing first in the women's 400-meter individual medley. In the final, Beisel posted a personal best time of 4:31.74, finishing more than two seconds ahead of teammate Caitlin Leverenz.Omega Timekeeping, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, [http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010C010201042502FFFFFFFFFFFF02 Women's 400m Individual Medley Final] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629214956/http://www.omegatiming.com/file/download/?id=00010C010201042502FFFFFFFFFFFF02 |date=June 29, 2012 }}. (June 25, 2012). Retrieved June 26, 2012. She also qualified in the 200-meter backstroke by placing second, behind Missy Franklin, with a time of 2:07.58. In her third event, the 400-meter freestyle, Beisel placed fifth in a time of 4:07.29.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Beisel posted a time of 4:31.68 in the preliminaries of the 400-meter individual medley. She was seeded first going into the finals, and received a silver medal for finishing second behind China's Ye Shiwen with a time of 4:31.27 to Ye's 4:28.46.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18910504|title=Hannah Miley fifth as Ye Shiwen breaks medley world record|access-date=July 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730015623/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18910504|archive-date=July 30, 2012|url-status=dead}} She also won a bronze medal by placing third in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:06.55, behind American Missy Franklin and Russian Anastasia Zuyeva.

=2016 Summer Olympics=

At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials held in Omaha, Nebraska, Beisel qualified for her 3rd Olympic team in the women's 400-meter individual medley. In the finals, Beisel swam a 4:36.81 for 2nd place behind Maya Dirado, who won the event with a 4:33.73.

In Rio de Janeiro, Beisel finished sixth in the final of the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:34.98.

= 2020 coaching career =

In August 2020, SPIRE Institute and Academy signed Biesel to become a swimming ambassador.{{Cite web|date=August 4, 2020|title=Olympian Elizabeth Beisel Joins SPIRE as International Swim Ambassador|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/olympian-elizabeth-beisel-joins-spire-as-international-swim-ambassador/|access-date=September 15, 2020|website=Swimming World News|language=en-US}} As an ambassador she will lead and instruct select classes.{{Cite web|date=August 4, 2020|title=SPIRE Announces Elizabeth Beisel As International Swim Ambassador|url=https://swimswam.com/spire-announces-elizabeth-beisel-as-international-swim-ambassador/|access-date=September 15, 2020|website=SwimSwam|language=en-US}}

Personal bests (long course)

{{updated|August 2, 2012}}.

class="wikitable"
Event !Time !Venue !Date
200 m backstroke \| 2:06.18 \| London \| August 2, 2012
400 m individual medley \| 4:31.27 \| London \|July 28, 2012

class="wikitable"

Event

!Time

!Venue

!Date

200 m backstroke

| 2:06.18

| London

| August 2, 2012

400 m individual medley

| 4:31.27

| London

|July 28, 2012

Involvement in LEAD Sports Summit

Since retiring from her swimming career, Elizabeth has become extremely involved in the LEAD Sports Summit. She has been a part of this organization since 2017 and is currently active. LEAD is a yearly summit that connects young female athletes with Olympic champions and experts through an all-inclusive, 4-day event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leadsportssummit.com/|title=Lead Sports Summit|website=Lead Sports Summit|language=en-US|access-date=February 29, 2020}}

''Survivor''

Beisel was one of 20 castaways to compete on Survivor: Island of the Idols, the 39th edition of the reality TV show. After starting off as a member of the Lairo tribe, she was selected as the first player to go to the eponymous Island of the Idols, where former players Sandra Diaz-Twine and "Boston" Rob Mariano acted as mentors to the competing castaways using their past knowledge of the game. In Beisel's case, they offered her a chance to receive an advantage if she beat Mariano in a fire making challenge. After losing the challenge to Mariano, she subsequently lost her vote at the first Tribal Council. Then, she was voted out on day 30 in the game. The initial vote resulted in a one-one tie between her and Janet Carbin, due to Karishma Patel playing a hidden immunity idol on herself. Beisel was then voted off in a 7-0 vote, making her the twelfth player voted out, placing 9th out of 20. Beisel eventually voted for runner up Dean Kowalski to win the game.

However, this season is marred by several controversies. One of which is for instances of "inappropriate touching" from contestant Dan Spilo.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2019 |title=The Delayed 'Survivor' Response to Claims of 'Inappropriate Touching' Proves Reality TV Has a Conduct Problem |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30188868/survivor-inappropriate-touching-dan-spilo-removal-explained/ |access-date=April 18, 2023 |website=Esquire |language=en-US}} The production crew strongly mishandled the situation, sparking a lot of controversy that ultimately got Spilo ejected from the game. After the incident, several female players, including Beisel, received backlash from the audience for using this scenario to further their game.{{Cite magazine |last1=November 14 |first1=Dalton Ross |last2=EST |first2=2019 at 09:49 PM |title='Deeply ashamed' Elizabeth and Missy apologize for actions on 'Survivor' |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/11/14/survivor-elizabeth-beisel-missy-byrd-apology/ |access-date=April 18, 2023 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}} Many fans speculate it was due to this drama that Beisel did not attend the season's reunion show.

Beisel is also married to fellow Survivor 39 contestant Jack Nichting.{{Cite web |title=Jack Nichting on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CkdwnW-LJ56/ |access-date=April 18, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}} Coincidentally, Beisel and Nichting were never on the same tribe during the game, due to Nichting being voted out of the game before the merge.

Bibliography

Beisel, Elizabeth with Beth Fehr. Silver Lining. United States, Nico 11 Publishing & Design, January 22, 2020. {{ISBN|978-1945907517}}.

References

External links

{{World Aquatics}}
{{Olympics.com profile}}
{{Olympedia}}
{{USA Swimming|new_id=elizabeth-beisel|archive=20210602215617}}
{{USOPC|new_id=elizabeth-beisel-862049|old_id=BE/Elizabeth-Beisel|archive=20230418185700}}
{{web archive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811154932/http://web.gatorzone.com/swimmingdiving/women/bios.php?year=2011 |title=Elizabeth Beisel – University of Florida athlete profile |date=August 11, 2014}}