U.S. Olympic Trials: Lilly King, Ryan Murphy Favored to Secure Paris Berths on Day 3 (Finals Heat Sheet)

Lilly King -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials: Lilly King, Ryan Murphy Favored to Secure Paris Berths on Day 3 (Finals Heat Sheet)

At the conclusion of Monday evening’s finals, 14 swimmers will leave Lucas Oil Stadium having secured their spots on the Olympic team bound for Paris while eight more will feel very confident about their chances. That’s because there are five finals on night three, beginning at 8 p.m. ET, including relay selection events in the men’s and women’s 200 freestyle. Also on the slate are the women’s 400 IM, women’s 100 breaststroke and men’s 100 backstroke.

Click here to view the full heat sheet.

Kicking off the session will be the women’s 400 IM, with reigning Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant having earned the top seed in prelims ahead of 2022 and 2023 World Championships silver medalist Katie Grimes. Grimes owns a best time of 4:31.41, and she could challenge Katie Hoff’s American record of 4:31.12 established at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Next up is the men’s 200 free, with veteran Kieran Smith seeded first and 200-yard free American-record holder Luke Hobson in lane five for the final. The event will have a distinct Indiana flavor with three swimmers originally from nearby Carmel Swim Club, Drew Kibler, Jake Mitchell and 400 free winner Aaron Shackell, plus former Indiana University swimmer Blake Pieroni aiming for his third Olympic team.

The women’s 100 back semis are next, with Katharine Berkoff and Regan Smith in lane four in their respective semifinal heats but plenty of strong competitors looming. Then, Ryan Murphy is the favorite in the men’s 100 back while Hunter Armstrong will look for a cleaner swim than he put together in the semifinals. Armstrong slipped on the start, flipped eighth in his heat after 50 meters and needed a heroic finish to come back and secure his place in the final.

Lilly King sits eight tenths clear of the field in the women’s 100 breast, and the Indiana Hoosier will receive plenty of crowd support. Lydia Jacoby, the 2021 Olympic champion in the event, will swim two lanes away. Finally, Katie Ledecky is the favorite in the women’s 200 free, and we’ll see what times the U.S. women can post as they try to assemble the strongest squad possible for the 800 free relay at the Paris Olympics.

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