Lydia Jacoby left Tokyo, Japan this weekend with another Olympic medal. The 17-year-old Seward swimmer won silver for her role in the women’s 400-meter medley relay Saturday, where she swam the second leg of the race and logged a time of 1:05.03.
It’s Jacoby’s second medal of the Olympics. She won gold for her surprise victory in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke last week.
Jacoby also raced in the 400-meter mixed medley relay Friday night. The U.S. team came in fifth place and Jacoby swam her entire leg with goggles down around her mouth, after they fell off her eyes when she jumped in the pool. She still made a time of 1:05.09.
The teen swimming phenom is scheduled to arrive back in Seward today, where her dad, Rich Jacoby, said she’s excited to sleep in her own bed and eat a home cooked meal.
And then, it’s back to 12th grade — and another year of Seward High School swimming. The team’s season starts this Wednesday.
“I mean, she’s still a high schooler so she’s gonna compete in the high school season," said Solomon D’Amico, head coach for the Seward High School swim team. “She’ll probably take a week or two off, whatever she feels is good. When she’s ready, she can come join us and we’ll get her back to the grind.”
Jacoby's fans in Seward are also planning a parade to celebrate their Olympic champ. But first, they want to give her time to decompress at home with her family, said Seward Tsunami Swim Club parent Sarah Spanos. She said they haven’t yet decided on a date for a celebration.
