Journey to 2024 Olympics goes through Raleigh, N.C. & Croatia
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
The Olympic journey for Aaron and Alex Shackell began on Tuesday.
The Carmel siblings that turned heads at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which took place just down the road at Lucas Oil Stadium, joined the other members of the U.S. Olympic swimming team at the first of two training camps that began earlier this week in Raleigh, N.C.
The Olympic swimmers will train at Raleigh until July 11, when they travel to Croatia for the second training camp. The second camp lasts until July 22, after which the Olympians head to Paris, the site of the 2024 Games, to begin international training.
This year’s Olympic Games begin with the opening ceremonies on July 26, with the swimming events taking place from July 27 to Aug. 4. (A complete schedule of all swimming events is available at olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/swimming.)
The Shackells spoke at a press conference last Friday at Carmel High School, right before a practice and a few days before traveling east to Raleigh. The two will be following in the footsteps of their father Nicholas Shackell, who competed in the Olympics for the United Kingdom at the 1996 Atlanta games.
“My whole life, I’ve wanted to be an Olympian, ever since my dad explained to me what it was,” said Alex Shackell. She competed in the trials for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, and she said, “that’s when it hit me that I have to do a lot of work if I want to make it in three years.”
Alex did indeed put in the work and quickly became someone to watch in the swimming world. She grabbed notice at the 2021 Speedo Winter Juniors Championships as a 15-year-old, when Shackell and her Carmel Swim Club teammates won the 200 medley relay.
Shackell is also helping Carmel High School to continue its long state championship streak. The incoming senior has so far won 11 state championships, including setting state records in the 100-yard butterfly and the medley and 200 freestyle relay.
Shackell claimed two gold medals at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Honolulu. She won the 100-meter butterfly and was the anchor of the 400-meter free relay. Shackell also picked up a silver medal was part of the American 800-meter free relay at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Shackell earned her place on the U.S. Olympic team by placing second in the 200-meter butterfly. She achieved her dream in front of a large crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“It’s so crazy,” said Alex Shackell. “The walkout was the longest walk of my entire life, just walking to my block. And then trying not to look at everyone up there. That was something that was big for me, not getting too caught in the pressure that was there.”
Aaron Shackell graduated from Carmel High School in 2023, also doing his part to keep the Greyhounds’ boys team’s state championship streak going. He won seven state championships and set state records in the 200 free and as a member of the medley relay team.
Aaron also competed in the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, where he won the gold medal in the 200 butterfly. He swam for the University of California for part of his freshman year, but returned to Carmel in December 2023, taking an Olympic redshirt. Shackell later announced that he was transferring to the University of Texas.
Shackell joined the U.S. Olympics team with his prime-time victory in the 400 freestyle at the Trials. He won the race in 3:45.46. That race got him noticed by a couple of swimming legends.
“It was really cool to see Michael Phelps post me on his Instagram story,” said Aaron Shackell. “That was really cool. Me and Katie Ledecky both won the 400 and we were underneath the pool to get our medals. She said she knew I was going to do something cool like that.”
Both Shackells gave credit to Chris Plumb, head coach for both Carmel Swim Club and Carmel High School. Plumb has been the coach at both places since 2006 and has built both programs into powerhouses that are getting recognition on the national and international scales. Plumb will be an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Team.
“I’m just happy to do it for Coach Plumb,” said Alex Shackell. “He deserves it so much. We have so many people behind us, and everyone wants us to achieve what Chris Plumb has on his mind. He’s never satisfied. Coming with us, it makes me so happy for him.”
Aaron Shackell mentioned Carmel’s associate head coach Chris Pfaff, saying “he works side by side with Chris and he just doesn’t get enough credit. He’s right up there with Chris as one of the best coaches in the world.”
“To have them converge to make the Olympic team when they moved here is just crazy to think about,” said Plumb, who also spoke at the press conference. “It’s obviously a tremendous honor for them, and our program and myself.” Plumb said knowing he helped them get there and being part of the process is what makes coaching fun.
Alex and Aaron have been champions together for a long time already. Now they will soon be Olympians together. Their story is just beginning and it’s already playing out as they feel it should.
“We’ve done everything together our whole lives,” said Aaron. “I made her try basketball when she was younger. I think she played like two games and then she quit. I’m not surprised we’re doing this together for the first time.”
“It just feels right,” said Alex. “I couldn’t see another way. I can’t imagine both of us not going to the games together.”