Margo Geer From Worlds to Pan Ams: ‘The Hardest Summer I Have Ever Had’

Margo Geer competed at the world championships and Pan American Games. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

It has been a whirlwind of a month for Margo Geer. From Singapore to South Korea, then Alabama to Peru to Michigan, Geer has been around the world in a matter of weeks.

“This summer was a lot. It was very challenging, probably the hardest summer I have ever had with swimming. But I learned quite a bit. Anytime you get to represent the USA, it is life-changing. I had a lot of fun, but it is good to be home,” Geer told Swimming World.

Geer has been training with the post-grad group at Alabama, having made the move from Indiana’s pro group to follow new Alabama head coach Coley Stickels. This summer, she was preparing for the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea and she swam on the prelims relay for the 4×100 free relay that won the silver medal.

But instead of staying for the rest of the meet, she hopped on a plane back to the U.S. to continue training for her next stop, the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where she won gold in the 100-meter freestyle.

“I went to worlds. We had a training camp in Singapore for 10 days, then we went to South Korea. I swam my relay on the first day of competition, then came back to Alabama, where I am training. I was there for nine days and then left for Lima shortly after,” Margo Geer said.

Geer won the 100 free in 54.17 but it was slower than her season best 54.09 that she swam in January. She was also on three gold medal winning relays and collected a silver in the 50 free.

“I came away with some medals. Time-wise, I wasn’t super satisfied, but getting on the podium was really big,” she said.

Instead of going back to Alabama right away, Geer flew from Lima to Michigan to spend some vacation time near Lake Michigan and volunteered to run a youth swimming clinic in Zeeland, Michigan, with the West Michigan Swimmers club.

It capped an extremely busy month for Geer, but one that reiterated her love for the sport.

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After a difficult 2016 Olympic trials, Geer had wondered if she was done, but has found a resurgence.

“I am super happy I came back to swimming. I am honestly having fun with it. This keeps it fresh and enjoyable for me,” she said. “I want to do more with kids as I do more in swimming.”

Geer will have a short break in her training to recover before revving back up for the inaugural International Swimming League season, where she will swim for the L.A. Current. Having the ISL was another step in swimming she could share with the kids at the clinic in Michigan.

“The opportunities have evolved in professional swimming,” Geer said. “Now kids get to dream even bigger because of these new things. That is really cool.”

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rick solis

4 years ago

Amazing, humble, and exciting as a person , efficient technique streamline body position and great rotation while sprinting freestyle I have witnessed her swim and teach at the Olympic Trials , and in West Michigan she is definitely one of the most consistent swimmers and best examples in the USA to follow . Can’t wait to see what happens in 2020!