MAXINE ROONEY (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/AMY R. JESSUP)
He was snubbed at home. Now Filipino-American swimmer Maxime Rooney is left with no choice but to take his wares to another team.
Today, Rooney opens his bid to snag a ticket to Rio by competing in the US Olympic Team Trials slated at the Century Link Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
The 18-year-old Maxime, whose father Keenan is a Cebuano from Lapu-Lapu City and a nephew of Councilor Harry Radaza, will be competing in the 100 and 200 freestyle events.
The youngster is no stranger to big competitions as he once led the US National Team to an impressive finish in the 2015 World Junior Championships by amassing two gold and three silver medals.
However, Rooney will be facing an acid test today as this will be his first time to compete in the Olympic trials after skipping it in 2012. He is the youngest male swimmer in this year’s competition.
Rooney suited up for the US Olympic trials after the Philippine swimming officials showed no interest in acquiring the young Cebuano. Rooney is a member of the University of Florida swimming team in the US National Collegiate Athletics Association.
Also expected to suit up in the trials today are 18-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, Anthony Ervin, Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger, Michael Chadwick and 2008 Olympic silver-medalist Matt Grevers.
Rooney is currently ranked the third best swimmer in the 200 meter freestyle and sixth in the 100 distance by Swimming.Org just behind Phelps.
The top six swimmers in those events will be included in the US team with the best two finishers locking horns in the individual races in the Rio Games slated to open on August 5.