U.S. Olympic Trials Preview, Day One: 400 Freestyle Finals to Open Selection Extravaganza
American swimmers, coaches, officials and hundreds of thousands of fans will make their way to Lucas Oil Stadium — home of the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts — for a unique U.S. Olympic Trials, complete with three temporary pools (two 50-meter and one 25-meter). The action takes place from June 15-23, with swimmers putting their hopes and dreams on the line for the opportunity to represent Team USA at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
These previews are part of a comprehensive Trials edition of Swimming World, which is set to be released next week.
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE
The first final of the Olympic Trials will be the weakest event in the United States in recent years, the only individual event out of 34 contested at last year’s World Championships in which no American qualified for the final.
Kieran Smith has the best credentials of anyone in the field, with an Olympic bronze medal in this event from the Tokyo Olympics, but Smith has not approached the 3:43-territory that won him an Olympic medal since then.
David Johnston was the winner of the event at U.S. Nationals last year, while Jake Mitchell was an Olympic finalist in Tokyo after he made the team in dramatic fashion, not achieving the Olympic “A” cut until a solo time trial midway through Olympic Trials.
There have been indications that Carson Foster, better known for his medley and butterfly swimming, will throw his name into the 400 free. But whoever makes the team, they would have to annihilate their best times to become medal contenders for Paris, where it will surely take at least 3:41 to make the podium.
Favorites: Kieran Smith, David Johnston, Jake Mitchell
Contenders: Jake Magahey, Ross Dant, Carson Foster
Wild Cards: Drew Kibler, Rex Maurer
Top 2 at 2021 Trials: Kieran Smith 3:44.86, Jake Mitchell 3:48.17 (3:45.86 in time trial)
World Record/Splits: 3:40.07 Paul Biedermann, GER (Rome 7-26-09)
26.29 54.42 (28.13) 1:22.43 (28.01) 1:51.02 (28.59)
2:18.78 (27.76) 2:47.17 (28.39) 3:14.30 (27.13) 3:40.07 (25.77)
WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE
While Ariarne Titmus, Summer McIntosh and Erika Fairweather have reached or surpassed Katie Ledecky’s level in the 400 free, she remains untouchable among Americans. Ledecky has hit marks in the 3:58-range each of the last two years, and her final tune-up race before Olympic Trials produced another sub-4:00 effort, which is quicker than any other American in history. The only question here will be how Ledecky’s Trials time compares to what her rivals reach at their domestic selection meets.
As for other contenders, Leah Smith has been a medalist behind Ledecky at the 2016 Olympics and three World Championships, although she is coming off a labrum injury earlier this year, while Bella Sims was a finalist at last year’s Worlds. Paige Madden, an Olympic finalist in 2021, has been resurgent in 2024. Teenagers Katie Grimes and Claire Weinstein could put themselves into the mix, although their better events will come later in the meet.
Favorite: Katie Ledecky
Contenders: Bella Sims, Leah Smith, Paige Madden, Katie Grimes, Claire Weinstein
Wild Cards: Jillian Cox, Erin Gemmell
Top 2 at 2021 Trials: Katie Ledecky 4:01.27, Paige Madden 4:04.86
World Record/Splits: 3:55.38 Ariarne Titmus, AUS (Fukuoka 7-23-23)
27.56 56.92 (29.36) 1:26.92 (30.00) 1:56.94 (30.02)
2:27.13 (30.19) 2:56.90 (29.77) 3:26.51 (29.61) 3:55.38 (28.87)
- PSYCH SHEET
- HOTEL INFORMATION
- LIVE RESULTS
- MEET INFO
- TV SCHEDULE
- DAY 1 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 1 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 2 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 2 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 3 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 3 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 4 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 4 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 5 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 5 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 6 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 6 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 7 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 7 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 8 PRELIMS RESULTS
- DAY 8 FINALS RESULTS
- DAY 9 FINALS RESULTS
- FULL RESULTS BOOK
It’s interesting concerning Ledecky, but the Men’s is dull as they will be lucky to Final at Paris let alone medal!. However as the Australian Olympic Trials are only 5 days away and we’ve the WR holder in the Women’s 400m freestyle and two top contenders (potential WR breakers) in the Men’s 400m freestyle. Why no write up on what are far more relevant and exciting events?
Ledecky could be interesting, depending upon the time she puts up. The American men’s 400m is not. They’ll be lucky to final in Paris let alone medal.
Of far more interest and excitement are the Australian Olympic Trials in these events. Not only is that occurring in only 5 days time,but both men’s and women’s 400m freestyle could very well see their respective world records broken. Articles on the Australian Trials would be appreciated!
Our Aussie Trials coverage will be complete and in-person. Previews on the way!
Thanks. Greatly appreciated!
Yes I’m patriotic so want to see my country’s swimmers covered. But ofcourse acknowledge the depth,history and superlatives of our greatest opposition in the US.
Thanks for reading, Kanga! We’ll have that content for you soon!
What about Lia Thomas?
Either category.
Irrelevant!
Oh as an aside. I’m of the same ethnicity as Ledecky (Czech) and it really annoys me the constant mispronunciation of her surname!
It’s properly pronounced:
Le-Dets-skee!