Official List of U.S. Paralympic Swim Team

U.S. Paralympic Trials Results

BISMARCK, N.D. - At the conclusion of this weekend's national Paralympic Trials, the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Paralympics announced that University of Indianapolis sophomore swimmer Dalton Herendeen has been selected to represent the United States at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London August 29 - Sept. 9.

The U.S. team features 34 athletes (20 female, 14 male), including 19 returning Paralympians from the 2008 team that won 44 medals in Beijing.

Herendeen won a pair of events at the trials with victories in the 100 breaststroke (1:19.21) and 100 backstroke (1:03.76), while also taking the runner-up spot in the 100 butterfly (1:02.97) and 200 individual medley (2:22.26). He also added a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle (4:24.80).

"It was pretty crazy to get the call because at the time I thought I might be out," Herendeen said. "I couldn't sleep the whole week because you have so much on your mind and thinking about what you could have done better. I was at the airport when they called and I had to head back. It was an emotional thing of going from the lowest low to the highest high. It was an absolutely awesome experience."

Herendeen competed as a S10/SM10 competitor in the free, back, fly and IM and SB8 in the breast. In swimming, there are 14 different classifications for athletes, ranging from 1 to 14. Levels 1 through 10 are reserved for athletes with physical disabilities – generally speaking, 1 is more severe than 10.

"I'm top eight in the world in the 100 back, so I think I have a chance to medal," Herendeen explained. "My big goal for London is to get a second chance. They only take the fastest eight back at night and that would be awesome to do that at only 19 because a lot of the other guys who are top eight in the world are 26, 27, 28 years old and veteran swimmers."

He set the American Class 10 record in the 200 IM last winter at 2:20.44, along with his personal best in the 400 free (4:24.68). His personal best in the 100 backstroke came at the trials.

In the Olympic Swimming Trials, qualification for the national team is determined by the finish of each event, but Paralympians are selected based on how their times compare to certain qualifying standards. Click here for more info on qualification and classification.

Herendeen's left leg was amputated below the knee shortly after the 19-year-old was born due to a blood clot. He uses a prosthesis away from the pool.

"Dalton is an extremely driven individual," UIndy swimming and diving head coach Gary Kinkead said. "He is very well-liked and the entire team is very excited for him.

"His most endearing quality is that when he thought he had not made the team, his first thought was that he had 'let so many people down.' Of course no one felt let down, because they were excited for the accomplishments and progress he has already made."

"Being at UIndy is definitely a huge factor for my swimming," Herendeen said. "The training was more specific and I never lifted weights in high school and now I'm lifting weights, so it is all a huge advantage. The help of Orel and Gary and just how much more intense the competition is in college, especially against the caliber of teams we swim against helps.

"The success of our team helped motivate me every day. Every day I wanted to come to practice to get better for my team."

He will become the fourth UIndy student-athlete to represent his country in Olympic competition and the first since his current assistant coach, Orel Oral, competed for Turkey in swimming at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, and 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. The Greyhounds' first Olympian was former football and track standout Dick Nalley with the U.S. two-man and four-man bobsled at the 1980 Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., where he finished fifth in the two-man. Former throwing standout Randy Heisler represented the United States throwing the discus at the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea, finishing 17th.

As a freshman, Herendeen was the UIndy men's swimming mental attitude award winner after he finished eighth in the 1,650 free to help the Greyhounds take third at the GLIAC Championships. He added more points by taking 13th in the 1,000 free and 14th in the 400 IM. He is currently sixth all-time in the 1,650 free (16:32.78) and ninth in the 1,000 free (9:57.39) on the Greyhounds' all-time list.

Herendeen and the rest of the team will compete in the Can-Am Paralympics Championships July 20-22 in Winnipeg, Canada. The U.S. delegation heads to Germany for two weeks of training and acclimation in mid-August to make final preparations for London.