Kelsi Dahlia

Kelsi Dahlia (nee Worrel) is an American female swimmer born on 15th July 1994. She is a native of Westampton Township in New Jersey, United States. Kelsi specializes in Butterfly stroke and represents the USA in 100m Butterfly and 200m Butterfly.

Background:

Kelsi Dahlia was born to Robert Worrell and Erica Worrell. She was born in Voorhees Township and brought up in Westampton Township, New Jersey.

Kelsi began to take up swimming at a young age. She joined the Tarnsfield Swim Club and trained there throughout her childhood. She attended Rancocas Valley Regional High School, where she began to take up competitive swimming. While at high school, she became a 3-time high school state champion in the 100m Butterfly and a runner-up in the 100m Freestyle at the Junior National Championships.

In 2012, after graduating from high school, Kelsi joined the University of Louisville, where she became a member of the Louisville Cardinals swimming team and trained under coach Arthur Albiero. She had represented them at the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming Championships (2013-2017).

In 2016, Kelsi Dahlia graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Louisville. She currently trains with Cardinal Aquatics and coach Arthur Albiero. She is also a swimming instructor at Swimlabs Swim Club.

Rise to Glory:

Kelsi Dahlia made her NCAA debut at the 2013 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming Championships, where she finished 4th 100y Butterfly. The following year, she won her national medal by taking home Bronze in 50m Butterfly at the USA National Swimming Championships.

In 2015, Kelsi won two NCAA titles in 100y Butterfly and 200y Butterfly, two Silver medals in 4x50y Medley and 4x100y Medley, and a Bronze in 50y Freestyle. That year, in August, she clinched two national titles in 100m Butterfly and 4x100m Freestyle.

Kelsi has an accumulated 9 national championships medals under her belt, which includes seven titles in 100m Butterfly (3), 50m Butterfly (3), and 4x100m Freestyle (1), and two Bronze medals in 50m Butterfly (1) and 50m Freestyle (1).

Kelsi Dahlia holds a joint national Long Course record in 50m Butterfly and two Short Course records in 100m Butterfly and 200m Butterfly.

Major Achievements:

Kelsi Dahlia made her international debut at the 2015 Pan American Games, where she won two Gold medals in 100m Butterfly and 4x100m Medley, and a Silver in 4x100m Freestyle. In 2016, she took home six medals, including three Gold in 4x100m Freestyle, 4x50m Medley, and 4x100m Medley and as many Silver medals in 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, and 200m Butterfly at the World Swimming Championships.

Kelsi competed in her debut Olympics at the 2016 Rio Olympics and helped the US medley team to win the Gold medal in the 4x100m Medley. At the World Aquatics Championships, she had won five titles in 4x100m Medley (2017 and 2019), 4x100m Freestyle, 4x100m Mixed Freestyle, and 4x100m Mixed Medley (2017), two Silver medals in 4x100m Freestyle and 4x100m Mixed Medley (2019), and a Bronze in 100m Butterfly (2017).

In 2018, Kelsi won three Silver medals in 100m Butterfly, 4x100m Freestyle, and 4x100m Medley at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. That year, in December, she clinched seven titles in 100m Butterfly, 4x50m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle, 4x50m Medley, 4x100m Medley, 4x50m Mixed Medley, and 4x50m Mixed Freestyle, a Silver medal in 100m Butterfly and a Bronze in 50m Butterfly at the World Swimming Championships.

Kelsi Dahlia will look to make the cut for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and shall be in contention to win medals in 100m Butterfly and 200m Butterfly.