Seven swimmers are representing LSU at the ongoing U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., until July 2 for a chance to earn a ticket to the London Olympic Games next month.
Seniors Jana Ruimerman, Audrey Lawson, Sara Haley, Timmy Dasinger, Nick Kunkel, junior Michael Saco and sophomore Amber Carter hit the pool hoping to eventually bring home the gold for the purple and gold.
Senior Sean Roddy and incoming freshmen Gabe Rocker and Sophie Weber will represent their home swim clubs, with Roddy having LSU as his secondary representation.
“We are thrilled to be having eight athletes representing LSU and two future Tigers at the 2012 US Olympic Trials,” LSU coach Dave Geyer said in a news release.
Haley goes into the trials as the most decorated LSU swimmer. The Lady Tiger is a two-time NCAA qualifier and SEC bronze medalist in the 200-meter fly.
Haley finished 152nd with a time of 1:03.60 in the preliminary heats on Monday in the 100-meter butterfly. She still has the 200-meter butterfly event on Thursday.
Haley also competed in the 2008 trials while not affiliated with LSU. She finished 64th out of 101 swimmers with a time of 2:17.04.
“For athletes,” Geyer said. “making this meet is always on top of their individual goal chart, as sometimes it is truly a once in a lifetime experience for them.”
In 2008, LSU had three athletes represent the Tigers in the Olympic trials in 2008 when Kevin Braud and then Tigers Katie Gilmore and Stephanie Cota swam for a chance at Beijing.
“In 2008, the program had only three athletes representing the program,” Geyer said. “Only one of those three swimmers returned for the following collegiate season. This year, all of these athletes will be returning to our team next year. I feel that is an obvious statement of the growth of our program and its great future.”
Roddy will compete in the 200-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley after finishing 45th in the 100-meter breaststroke with a personal best time of 1:03.37. The Tiger ranks in the top 10 all time in LSU’s record books in all three events.
Roddy’s career bests are 2:19.93 in the 200-meter breast and 2:06.24 in the 200-meter individual medley.
Ruimerman lead the Lady Tigers in the 200-meter backstroke this season, finishing 12th in the SEC meet. Her personal best is 2:17.61 in the event, which would have put her in 65th place at the 2008 trials.  
Contact Mike Gegenheimer at [email protected].