Tom Shields

Born in Florida in 1991, Tom Shields grew up in Southern California, and began swimming competitively when he was 8 years old. While swimming for Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Shields set the National High School record in the 200m freestyle competitions. He also competed in the 2008 Olympic trials, but failed to make the team. After high school, Shields attended the University of California and competed on the swim team. While there, he won National Championships in 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 200m butterfly. At the 2012 Olympic trials, Shields finished fourth behind Michael Phelps, Tyler McGill, and Ryan Lochte and again, wasn't named to the Olympic team. At the FINA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, later that same year, Shields set the American record in the 50m butterfly competition, earning the bronze medal. In 2013, he set the American record for the 200m short course butterfly at the Eindhoven World Cup. With a training regimen that included three hours of pool time six days a week, Shields maintained his top form and at the 2015 Duel in the Pool meet, he set new American records in both the 200m and 100m butterfly competitions.