Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
The competition is getting stiffer for Teagan O’Dell, and that’s fine by her.
The former Santa Margarita swimmer will race in her first senior-level, international meet for Team USA starting Friday, July 18 at the World University Games in Berlin, Germany.
O’Dell, The Register’s reigning female athlete of the year, will compete in the 400-meter individual medley, one of her rising events at the Olympic distance or long course meters.
O’Dell, who signed with Cal, will compete in the 200 IM starting on Monday.
“This being my first time as one of the senior-level swimmers, I’m looking forward to it,” O’Dell said of the World University Games before departing for Germany. “I’m also looking forward to competing along side other college athletes.”
O’Dell, 18, has represented the U.S. at the Junior World Championships in 2023 and twice at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships (2022, 2024).
She fulfilled one of her goals by qualifying for the World University Games at the U.S. nationals in Indianapolis in early June.
O’Dell wanted to make either the U.S. team for Germany or the World Championships in Singapore.
The four-time O.C. female swimmer of the year posted lifetime-best times in the 400 IM (4 minutes, 41.32 seconds) and 200 IM (2:11.25) at nationals.
“Because I had competed at the junior level for three years, I told myself it was time to step it up,” she said. “I’m honored to represent the USA another time.”
