Olympic Trials Day 2 Semifinals: Lilly King Tops in 100 Breaststroke; Rose Barely Misses Final at 46

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Lilly King got a thunderous ovation once again as she stepped up to the blocks once again in the semifinals of the 100 breaststroke at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Swimming close to home, she has always thrived swimming in Indianapolis. But this is her first time – like everyone – swimming in an NFL stadium.

The Lucas Oil Stadium crowd boomed for their hometown King, and she once again delivered.

The other huge ovation came for 46-year-old Gabrielle Rose, who was an Olympian in 1996 and 2000. After winning international medals at the World Championships, Pan Pacifics and Pan American Games, she stopped swimming after the 2004 Olympic Trials.

She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials at the U.S. Masters Nationals last year, breaking the Masters world record all the way down to 1:09.82. Then she unleashed a 1:08.43 in prelims to earn the 11th seed in semifinals.

Rose is the oldest trials semifinalist in U.S. history.

Lilly King got a thunderous ovation once again as she stepped up to the blocks once again in the semifinals of the 100 breaststroke at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Swimming close to home, she has always thrived swimming in Indianapolis. But this is her first time – like everyone – swimming in an NFL stadium.

The Lucas Oil Stadium crowd boomed for their hometown King, and she once again delivered earning the top seed for finals.

King walked out during the introductions like it was her home and her moment.

It was.

“This is where I thrived. I felt like I was walking out to a boxing match, I can’t really put it into words,” King said.

The other huge ovation came for 46-year-old Gabrielle Rose, who was an Olympian in 1996 and 2000. After winning international medals at the World Championships, Pan Pacifics and Pan American Games, she stopped swimming after the 2004 Olympic Trials.

She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials at the U.S. Masters Nationals last year, breaking the Masters world record all the way down to 1:09.82. Then she unleashed a 1:08.43 in prelims to earn the 11th seed in semifinals.

Rose is the oldest trials semifinalist in U.S. history. Her remarkable run ended with a 10th-place finish in 1:08.32.

King got to the wall first in 1:05.57. Kaitlyn Dobler was second in 1:06.42 and took the second seed overall. Rose finished fifth in her heat in 1:08.32.

In the first semifinal, Emma Weber got to the wall first in 1:06.48, ahead of Lydia Jacoby (1:06.66) and Alex Walsh (1:06.87). Weber and Jacoby are the 3-4 seeds.

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Steve Harrison
Steve Harrison
1 month ago

Great swims today McKenzie! Good luck in finals. It’s gonna be a dawg fight!!

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