DENVER -University of Denver swimmer Johanna Roas (Munich, Germany) recently competed in the 2016 German Nationals, which served as their Olympic Trials event.

"Going home and swimming at nationals is always a lot of fun," Roas said. "I was especially nervous this year because I already swam fast at the beginning of this season, and I was hoping to drop some more time, swim new personal bests, and place high overall."

Roas won the 50 meter backstroke for the second year in a row, earning National Champion or "Deutsche Meisterin" honors in that event. She finished second overall in the 100 meter backstroke and now has a chance to be named to the German Olympic team for her success in that event. Her preliminary time of 1:00.64 is the fastest time in Germany this year and also reaches Final B Olympic standards. Roas' home country will now consider her and two other athletes to swim in their 400 medley relay, and she hopes to secure a spot by racing in an event in Germany later this summer.

"I swam two new personal best times in the 100 free and the 100 back. I also won the 50 back," Roas added. "I was hoping to swim even faster in the 100 back, especially in the finals.My swim in the preliminary round was really good and I know I can swim even faster than that."

All swimmers who achieve the preliminary and finals qualification standards will inform German head coach Henning Lambertz one week after German Nationals, in which meet they want to confirm the required performance of the nomination process: at one of the three meets of the Mare Nostrum tour or the German Open. All swimmers who reach the times and have also finished first or second at the German National Championships will qualify for Rio.

"My next meet will be the German Open," Roas said. "I am hoping I can swim just as fast, if not faster, and qualify for a spot on the 400 medley relay team in Rio. I have seven more weeks to get ready to race again and I am excited to see how fast I can go!"

For more information on the 2016 German Nationals, click HERE.