NAG Record Holder Kaii Winkler Out for Nationals
USA National Age Group record-holder Kaii Winkler will not compete at the U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis this week.
Eagle Aquatics coach Adam Madarassy confirmed to Swimming World that Winkler will not be competing at the meet, despite Winkler being listed on the psych sheet. A source reported Winkler to be dealing with an undisclosed injury. Madarassy did not confirm the injury, but said that Winkler will not be competing.
Winkler has established himself as a future star in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. In addition to winning titles at the Florida 1A Championships, Winkler excelled at the Winter Junior Nationals-East, where he set a National Age Group (NAG) record in the 15-16 classification in the 100-yard freestyle. In that event, Winkler touched the wall in a time of 42.21. He’d taken the record from Ryan Hoffer in November by going 42.52 at the Florida 1A High School Championships.
He has committed to swim at N.C. State with one year of high school remaining.
Winkler also owns the 15-16 NAG record in the 100-meter free, which was done at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale this past March. Winkler posted a time of 48.81 to become the first 15-16 year old to get under the 49-second barrier.
Winkler has a shot to be in contention for an Olympic spot next year as he gets closer and closer to the top sprinters in the country.
He has already seen success at the international level. He competed for the U.S. at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, winning silver in the 50 free (in a tie with Diggory Dillingham). He anchored the winning American men’s 400 free and 400 medley relays, the former of which set a world junior record. The medley relay set a championship record in the meet in Hawaii.
