Photo by: David Stluka
Hutchins gets first taste of Rio, competes in 400 Freestyle
August 06, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Wisconsin All-American finishes 19th overall in heats of 400-meter freestyle
RIO DE JANEIRO – University of Wisconsin swimmer Matt Hutchins got his first taste of the 2016 Rio Olympics on Saturday, competing in preliminary heats of the men's 400-meter freestyle at Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Named the Big Ten Conference Swimmer of the Year in 2015-16, Hutchins used the opportunity of competing in the 400 freestyle to get his first feel for the pool and his first taste of the Olympics. The junior certainly made the most of the opportunity, finishing second in his heat with a personal-best time of 3 minutes, 48.25 seconds. He improved 10 spots from his seed placement, finishing 19th overall in the event after entering with the 29th overall seed.
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An All-American and school record holding distance swimmer, Hutchins will compete in the 1500-meter freestyle beginning Friday, Aug. 12, with preliminary heats at 11:40 a.m. (CT) live on NBC. The 1500 freestyle final takes place Saturday, Aug. 13, at 8:11 p.m. live on NBC.
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Hutchins is coming off an illustrious junior campaign in 2015-16, during which he set three school records, earned two All-America accolades and became Wisconsin's first-ever male Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, he became the first male Badger swimmer to qualify for the Olympics since 2004 when Adam Mania represented Poland. Hutchins became the 11th Olympian in the history of UW's swimming program.
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Named the Big Ten Conference Swimmer of the Year in 2015-16, Hutchins used the opportunity of competing in the 400 freestyle to get his first feel for the pool and his first taste of the Olympics. The junior certainly made the most of the opportunity, finishing second in his heat with a personal-best time of 3 minutes, 48.25 seconds. He improved 10 spots from his seed placement, finishing 19th overall in the event after entering with the 29th overall seed.
Â
An All-American and school record holding distance swimmer, Hutchins will compete in the 1500-meter freestyle beginning Friday, Aug. 12, with preliminary heats at 11:40 a.m. (CT) live on NBC. The 1500 freestyle final takes place Saturday, Aug. 13, at 8:11 p.m. live on NBC.
Â
Hutchins is coming off an illustrious junior campaign in 2015-16, during which he set three school records, earned two All-America accolades and became Wisconsin's first-ever male Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, he became the first male Badger swimmer to qualify for the Olympics since 2004 when Adam Mania represented Poland. Hutchins became the 11th Olympian in the history of UW's swimming program.
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