Maya DiRado earns 1st trip to Olympics with 400 IM win at US trials

OMAHA, Neb. - Maya DiRado qualified for her first OIympic team in the women’s 400 IM on Sunday, knocking off 2012 silver medalist Elizabeth Beisel.

DiRado, a Maria Carrillo and Stanford graduate who plans to retire after the London Games at age 23, is a late bloomer who peaked at just the right time. She touched in 4:33.73, finishing a couple of body lengths ahead of Beisel, who still earned a spot on her third Olympic team by holding off Bethany Galat.

DiRado’s time was announced as the fifth-fastest posted in the event this year in the world.

Beisel finished in 4:36.81, while Galat missed out on Rio by less than a second in 4:37.69.

“Really the biggest thing is just staying calm and not getting flustered,” DiRado said. “I don’t know what life I’m living, but it’s amazing.”

DiRado narrowly missed qualifying for the 2012 Olympics in London, finishing fourth in both the 400 IM and 200 IM at the U.S. trials, with the top three finishers advancing to the Olympics.