Ten swimmers, including former gold medalists Katie Ledecky and Chase Kalisz, have already secured their spots on Team USA for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the ongoing swimming Olympic trials in Indianapolis. The trials will run until Sunday.
Over 20,000 people flocked to the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, to witness the start of the Swimming Olympic trials on Saturday. The event’s top two finishers in each category will secure their spots in the upcoming Summer Games. The pool was constructed on top of the stadium’s field, providing a unique setting for the trials. The turnout broke the record for attendance at a U.S. swimming Olympic trials, making it an unforgettable experience for both the swimmers and the spectators.
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On Sunday, Carson Foster achieved his first-ever Olympic qualification by winning the men’s 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:07.64. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medalist, Kalisz, secured his third Olympic appearance by finishing second with a time of 4:09.39.
Foster expressed his immense relief to the reporters after completing the daunting task, both mentally and physically. “It was such a big relief, and I could see my family going crazy with joy,” he said.
During the semifinals on Saturday, Gretchen Walsh achieved a remarkable feat by setting a world record with a time of 55.18 seconds in the women’s 100-meter butterfly. The following day, she continued to impress by winning the final of the event for the first time, clocking in at 55.31 seconds. Torri Huske, who won a silver medal in the 4×100 medley relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finished second with a time of 55.52 seconds.
Walsh expressed her emotions by saying, “I am thrilled to be on cloud nine at the moment, though this expedition had its fair share of moments of happiness and disappointment.”
In the men’s 100-meter breaststroke, Nic Fink secured a spot on Team USA with a first-place finish of 59.08, while Charlie Swanson followed closely behind with a time of 59.16, earning him the second spot on the team. Fink, who came in fifth in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Games, showcased his skills once again. Meanwhile, Swanson, a first-time Olympic qualifier, proved his mettle in the pool.
In an impressive performance on Saturday, Aaron Shackell secured his first-ever spot on Team USA by winning the men’s 400-meter freestyle with a time of 3:45.46. Kieran Smith, who had won a bronze medal in the same event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, came in second with a time of 3:45.76. This victory marks a significant milestone for Shackell and his career, and we can expect to see more exceptional performances from him in the future.
In the pool, Ledecky emerged victorious in the women’s 400-meter freestyle, clocking in at 3:58.35. Paige Madden came in second place with a time of 4:02.08, securing the fourth spot in the Team USA roster.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ledecky, who boasts ten Olympic medals with seven golds, came in second place in the 400-meter freestyle. However, she previously won the same event at the 2016 Summer Games. Madden, on the other hand, made her Olympic debut in 2020 and was a part of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay team that won the silver medal.
The week’s events will determine additional spots on Team USA’s roster. On Monday, the finals will feature the women’s 400 individual medley, men’s 200 freestyle, men’s 100 backstroke, women’s 100 breaststroke, and women’s 200 freestyle. The swimmers will also participate in the semifinals for the women’s 100 backstroke.
Every night through Sunday, NBC will broadcast the semifinals and finals of each event, beginning at 8 p.m. EDT.
For relay events, the Team USA roster for Paris 2024 can include the Top 6 finishers in both the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyles. The roster is limited to a maximum of 26 women and 26 men.
