5 Questions With a Trials Qualifier: Aiden Bond
By Rich House
Aiden Bond hails from McLean, Virginia where he grew up swimming summers at the River Bend Country Club, and now has served as a coach for 7 years! He attended Gonzaga College High School and this Spring, completed his first year at the College of William and Mary. As a Senior at Gonzaga, Aiden earned Washington Post, 1st Team All-Met:
“Bond executed multiple come-from-behind victories as the anchor of the Eagles’ 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. His 20.10 split in the final 50 of the 200 freestyle relay at WMPSSDLs was enough to snag first place despite trailing by more than a second heading into the last leg.”
In his Freshman year at William and Mary, Aiden excelled in the pool, achieving best times in the 50 (19.79), 100 (43.61), and 200 Freestyle (1:36.47), finishing 2nd in the Conference Championship meet in the 50 and 3rd in the 100 and 200.
Aiden continued to train this Spring and competed in the Eastern Zone Super Sectional meet (May 16-19, Richmond, VA), representing his hometown club- York Swim Club. Aiden swam the 50 and 100 Freestyle events, placing 2nd in the 50 and 5th in the 100. In the final heat of the 50, he came up just shy of the Trials standard, hitting the wall in 22.81. Undeterred, later in the meet, he went again for a time trial in the 50 and hit the wall in 22.60, well under the 22.79 standard! Aiden is a Trials Qualifier!!
Aiden will swim the 50 Free prelims Thursday, June 20th. Coverage gets underway on Saturday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. Qualifying heats will air live on Peacock with same day delayed coverage each day on USA Network.
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As the title of the post suggests, here’s the 5 questions
RFTW: Which is more fun- Summer League or College meets…and why?
AB: I think College Meets are more fun. William and Mary has the best venue for swim meets I have ever participated in. The energy, noise, and overall spirit at college meets are unmatched.
RFTW: What is your favorite hype song and favorite chill song/band?
AB: My favorite hype song would be Afraid to Feel or 17 by MK. My favorite band would probably be Fleetwood Mac
RFTW: What is your ‘go to’ meal before a meet?
AB: My go-to meal is usually a chipotle bowl with a tortilla on the side between sessions and fettuccine alfredo the night before a meet.
RFTW: What is the best advice you’ve received from a coach?
AB: The best advice I have received from a coach is that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer.
RFTW: Who has inspired you in your career (list 2, a swimmer & non-swimmer)?
AB: My summer swim coach, Mat Campet, has been the biggest inspiration in my career. He fostered my love of swimming from a young age and convinced me to try club swimming again during my Junior year of high school. Another inspiration is just all my teammates on William and Mary. They have pushed me past my limits in the water and inspired me to work harder daily.
RFTW (Bonus Question): What advice can you give to current age groupers looking to achieve their goals in swimming?
AB: Just have fun with it. Swimming should be fun; the more fun you have, the faster you swim!