Lydia Jacoby
One day she’s making acceptance speeches at USA Swimming award banquets in Miami and the next she’s flying to Abu Dhabi for the FINA World Championships.
So is life for Seward’s Lydia Jacoby, who has been on the move pretty much nonstop since the 17-year-old won two Olympic medals last summer.
“It’s just going a million miles,” her mother, Leslie, said by phone.
From the Olympics in Japan to World Cup events in Germany and Hungary, Jacoby racked up frequent flyer miles and six medals.
She looks for another medal haul in the United Arab Emirates.
Jacoby traveled Friday to Abu Dhabi along with coach Solomon D’Amico for the FINA World Championships, which run Dec. 16-21. She is part of a U.S. team that features 14 women and 14 men, and will compete in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke in addition to different relays.
The Alaskan will also represent Team USA as a FINA Ambassador.
“It’s kind of a really big deal because there’s only one from the U.S., and it’s Lydia,” her mom said. “There are others from around the world and they are all wicked fast.”
Jacoby comes to the FINA World Championships with this year’s fourth-fastest 100 breaststroke time of 1:04.95, which she posted in her gold-medal effort at the Olympics.
That performance put her on the map, and put a couple Golden Goggle Awards in her trophy case.
Jacoby was recognized in Miami at USA Swimming’s annual banquet, earning Golden Goggles for Breakout Performer and Female Race of the Year.
“We thought it was incredible that she was nominated for three awards, but to win two of them is amazing. She had a really great time,” Leslie said.
“It was kind of like an Olympic team banquet. It was a beautiful reunion for them. They were so happy to see each other. There’s no one who can really understand the process … so when they see each other, it’s really cool.”
Jacoby used her acceptance speech as an opportunity to pay tribute to her mentor, Jessica Hardy, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and family friend since 2017.
Jessica Hardy and Lydia Jacoby
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s helped me along the way, particularly, Jessica Hardy,” Jacoby said in her speech.
Hardy opened Jacoby’s eyes to what was possible after a race in Mission Viejo, California, where Jacoby challenged world-record holder Lilly King in the 100 breaststroke.
“She told me that she thought I could take gold in Tokyo and I was like, ‘Pfft, no, that’s crazy,’” Jacoby said. “So, I’d like to say thank you for having so much trust in me.”
The two swimmers became quick buddies in 2017 when Hardy visited Alaska and stayed with Jacoby’s family.
“We got to know her pretty well,” Leslie said.
The two swimmers stayed close over the years and Hardy has shared with the Alaska family her blueprint for Olympic success.
“She’s really held our family’s hand through this whole process,” Leslie said.
In Abu Dhabi, Jacoby will have her longtime coach at her side. Last month, she presented D’Amico with an Order of Ikkos medal to symbolize his excellence in coaching.
“She works really closely with Sol with a big, overall plan,” Leslie said. “There are different phases where they are working on endurance or strength and then ultimately all these little parts are leading to that taper and that peak performance. She’s working very hard.
“Abu Dhabi is going to be fantastic.”