Geehr Continues Youth Movement

IRVINE â€”  Carly Geehr first met Olympian Amanda Beard last February at the Senior Nationals in Buffalo, N.Y.

But unlike the fans who watched Beard, Geehr raced against Olympic silver medalist in the final of the 100-meter breaststroke.

Geehr, a 12-year-old La Canada resident who trains with the Rose Bowl Aquatic Club in Pasadena, has burst on the scene in the last year. Posting Senior National times in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and the 400-meter individual medley, Geehr’s breaststroke times have put her at the top of the list in the nation for her age group.

“I was probably as excited as I was scared,� said Geehr, who finished seventh in the race won by Beard. “To have a chance to swim against people you consider heroes, was really exciting.�

“I think Carly is definitely one of our brightest young swimmers today,� said Beard’s coach, Dave Salo of the Irvine Novaquatics. “I think what Amanda did last year at the Olympics, opened up a lot of doors for talented swimmers like Carly, and gave them the inspiration that they can do it too. In any event, it’s certainly going to be interesting to see them race this weekend.�

She and Beard will be competing with other top swimmers at the Speedo Grand Challenge Swimming Meet at the Heritage Aquatic Complex in Irvine, which starts today.

“[Beard was] just a really nice person,� Geehr said. “And it was really helpful to me to swim against her because she pushed me.�

Carly’s mother, J.T. Geehr, said her daughter didn’t start swimming until she was 9.

“I remember we were at a barbecue at a friend’s house,� J.T. said. “Our friend’s son, who swam for Rose Bowl, challenged Carly to a race and beat her. When we were coming home that night, Carly said she wanted to join Rose Bowl. And when I asked her why, she told me she wants to beat [the boy who beat her]. From then on she took off.�

When Geehr started to train with Rose Bowl, the backstroke was her best stroke. However, in the last two years, breaststroke has become her dominant stroke.

Combining what she said is a “bunch of different techniques,� Geehr seems to have developed a style that works for her.

“I look at different strokes, like Amanda’s, and I try to combine them into my stroke,� Geehr said. “My coach, Gary Anderson, has also helped me with my stroke.�

Former Mission Viejo Nadadores Coach Terry Stoddard is now the head coach at Rose Bowl.

Although Geehr’s best stroke is the breaststroke, Stoddard believes she will develop into an all-around good swimmer.

“She has great range and a lot of potential,� Stoddard said, noting that she’s not shy about swimming other events, such as the mile. “She puts a lot of effort in her workouts, and she’s very eager to move up and train with the senior group.�

“I’m still a kid so that won’t be for a while,� Geehr said. “They do a lot more yardage than I’m used to and they work out a lot in the morning.�

Geehr said she’s looking forward to the Grand Challenge because in addition to competing against Beard, the meet will include some of the top high school swimmers.