P.H. Mullen

“Jones, the personification of the gritty mid-level swimmer, was a 100 and 200 freestyle specialist. That’s one of the toughest combinations in swimming because it requires both bursting speed and endurance. Few can claim to be equally good at both. A 100/200 freestyler is also the most desirable swimmer for a collegiate program because he or she can score points in the widest range of events: the individual 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle, plus three relays (4 × 100-yard medley, 4 × 100-yard freestyle, and 4 × 200-yard freestyle). Additionally, the swimmer can be used in a pinch in the 50-yard or 500-yard freestyle. In contrast, a distance freestyler might only specialize in one event, the mile, while a single-stroke swimmer like Grote can contribute in no more than three events, the stroke’s 100-yard and 200-yard races, plus the 4 × 100-yard medley relay.”
― P.H. Mullen Jr., Gold in the Water: The True Story of Ordinary Men and Their Extraordinary Dream of Olympic Glory

“Autumn, not spring, is swimming’s preseason. It is a time to build an aerobic base, develop a routine, and set goals for the year. The few meets held between August and January are dress rehearsals to real racing, which begins in January.”
― P.H. Mullen Jr., Gold in the Water: The True Story of Ordinary Men and Their Extraordinary Dream of Olympic Glory