Rhyan White reacts after winning the women's 200 backstroke during wave 2 of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, via sltrib.com)

July 2021

As reported in the Deseret News, Herriman’s Rhyan White punched her ticket to the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, June 19, 2021. White clinched her spot on the United States’ Olympic swimming team when she beat out the favorite, world record holder and reigning world champion Regan Smith in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:05.73. White also qualified in the 100-meter backstroke with her second-place finish to Smith earlier in the week.

White grew up in Herriman, attended Cottonwood High School, is currently a junior, having an exceptional career, at the University of Alabama, and is now headed to the Olympics. In addition to qualifying for the Olympics, White has an array of accolades during her swimming career including All-American, SEC Swimmer of the Year,

SEC Commissioner’s Trophy, First Team All-SEC, and SEC All-Freshman Team among others according to rolltide.com. She has also set many school records and earned the Crimson Tide’s Most Valuable award.

Noted on teamusa.org, White is the first to qualify for both backstrokes at the Olympic Games since Missy Franklin in 2012. She is also the first Youth Olympic Games gold medalist (2018) to make the U.S. Olympic Team in swimming. 

Rhyan, good luck in Tokyo!