Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. Carson Foster Rising in Prominence Entering His Second World Championships The title of top male swimmer in the United States is a distinguished one, with the likes of Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte occupying the title for 15 years prior to 2016 and then Caeleb Dressel emerging as an international superstar in 2017. But following Dressel’s departure midway through last year’s Worlds and his ensuing eight-month hiatus from training, there is no obvious standout that dominates multiple events. In last year’s World Male Swimmer of the Year voting, the top four finishers were all from Europe and the fifth from Australia. So who is the top male swimmer in the U.S. today? Heading into World Championships, there are three primary contenders, two of whom will be defending individual gold medals from last year in Budapest: Ryan Murphy was the champion in the 200 backstroke last year while Bobby Finke has become the first American man to win an Olympic or world title in a distance freestyle race in almost 40 years. The third candidate is an individual medley swimmer that only last year shook his old reputation as a talented youngster who struggled in significant moments. Carson Foster missed the 2021 Olympic team in two events, fading significantly down the stretch of the 400 IM final before finishing mere tenths short of a relay berth in the 200 free. But Foster’s results in 2022 completely changed the outlook on his career and potential. As Leon Marchand exploded to international stardom, threatening the world record in the 400 IM and sweeping both medley world titles, Foster was the No. 2 man in both events, actually matching or out-splitting Marchand on every stroke except breaststroke. Foster jumped to ninth all-time in the 400 IM (4:06.56) and 15th in history in the 200-meter race (1:55.71), and he won his first gold medal at a major meet as he provided a key leg on the American men’s gold-medal-winning 800 free relay. The following month at a low-leverage Sectionals meet, Foster experimented with events that he could add to his portfolio. The results were encouraging: a time in the 200 backstroke that would have just missed the medal stand at the World Championships and the fastest 400 freestyle in the country all year. Most significantly, he became the third-fastest American ever and 14th-fastest overall performer in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:53.71. So when Foster arrived at U.S. Nationals, he was either the favorite or a strong contender to qualify for Worlds in all six events he entered (200 & 400 free, 200 back, 200 fly, 200 & 400 IM). However, that enormous lineup would not have been practical, based on possible doubles in the World Championships lineup. So Foster chose to handle Nationals like a pro: do exactly what he needed to qualify for Worlds in his desired events and not waste energy. Carson Foster (left) with Texas teammate Will Licon at U.S. Nationals — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick Important to note: this is a swimmer who once threatened the 400-yard American record in prelims at the NCAA Championships because he was “ticked” about his results the evening prior. Foster then swam two seconds slower at night as he finished a distant third. That day taught him “just don’t let my emotions carry me to being stupid at a meet like that.” At Nationals, the 21-year-old carried himself like a frontrunner, not in a cocky manner but a confident one. In his first final, he won the 200 fly in a solid time of 1:54.32. He said afterward, “Four weeks out of where I want to be, I think that’s a really good spot to be.” Foster immediately showed some of that developed maturity as he reflected on what went right and wrong in the swim: ” I just got out of my lane a little bit,” he said. “Obviously when you have someone next to you running you down, it’s hard to stay in your lane. It was good practice for me just to stick to my race plan, focus on my technique and my rhythm.” The rest of the meet was relatively uneventful, which is pretty much all an athlete can ask for at a selection meet: Foster swam solid times on the way to first-place finishes in both individual medley races. He swam the prelims of the 200 free but opted out of the final, knowing that the individual event would not fit into his program in Fukuoka. He did what was necessary for a relay spot, and the U.S. coaching staff surely will not leave Foster off the finals quartet. And while Foster could have surely fired off some impressive times in the 200 back and 400 free, he scratched those races. No place in his lineup at Worlds, and Foster made quite clear that the global meet was his primary objective. Now comes Foster’s chance to once again prove his talents to a global audience. In Fukuoka, he will be the only American male racing three individual events, and he will be favored to again win silver medals behind Marchand in the IM race. A return to 1:53-territory in the 200 fly will give Foster a real shot at the 200 fly podium, particularly with world-record holder Kristof Milak missing this year’s Worlds. The American men will face off with Great Britain in the 800 free relay, and any chance U.S. gold will requires several 1:44 splits, including one from Foster. Perform at a high level at a second consecutive major meet while playing a big role in boosting the U.S. medal count, and Foster will continue his ascension through the world ranks.
