17-Year-Old Henry McFadden Rallies From 4th at Final Turn for 200 Free Win in 1:47.23

by Riley Overend 6

January 12th, 2023 National, News, Pro Swim Series

TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE

17-year-old Henry McFadden edged Olympic finalist Kieran Smith in the 200-meter freestyle at the first stop of the 2023 Pro Swim Series on Thursday night in Knoxville, Tennessee.

McFadden clocked a time of 1:47.23, shaving more than a second off his previous-best 1:48.27 from Junior Nationals last summer.

A Stanford commit and current club swimmer with Jersey Wahoos, McFadden sat back in fourth place at the final turn before blazing home in a 26.66, passing Robin Hanson, Gabriel Jett, and Smith for the victory. Smith placed second in 1:47.33 while Jett took third with a personal-best 1:47.41.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE — FINALS

  • World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
  • World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
  • American Record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
  • U.S. Open Record: 1:44.10 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
  • Pro Swim Series Record: 1:44.82 – Sun Yang, CHN (2016)

Top 8 Finishers:

  1. Henry McFadden (JW) – 1:47.23
  2. Kieran Smith (RACT) – 1:47.33
  3. Gabriel Jett (UN) – 1:47.41
  4. Robin Hanson (UN) – 1:48.81
  5. Drew Kibler (CSC) – 1:49.59
  6. Zane Grothe (BCH) – 1:50.01
  7. Jay Litherland (SUN) – 1:51.02
  8. Jack Dahlgren (UMIZ) – 1:52.19

McFadden’s time moves him up to No. 6 in the all-time national age group (NAG) rankings for 17- and 18-year-old boys. 

17-18 NAG Rankings, 200 Free

  1. Michael Phelps – 1:45.99 (2003)
  2. Jack Levant – 1:46.39 (2018)
  3. Luca Urlando – 1:46.51 (2019)
  4. Luke Hobson – 1:46.92 (2022)
  5. Maxime Rooney – 1:47.10 (2015)
  6. Henry McFadden – 1:47.23 (2023)
  7. Patrick Callan – 1:47.33 (2017)
  8. Carson Foster – 1:47.47 (2019)
  9. Townley Haas – 1:47.55 (2015)
  10. Drew Kibler – 1:47.65 (2018)

Among 17-year-old Americans, McFadden is now the third-fastest ever behind Luca Urlando (1:46.51) and Maxime Rooney (1:47.10). 

Fastest 17-Year-Old Americans, 200 Free

    1. Luca Urlando – 1:46.51 (2019)
    2. Maxime Rooney – 1:47.10 (2015)
    3. Henry McFadden – 1:47.23 (2023)
    4. Patrick Callan – 1:47.33 (2017)
    5. Carson Foster – 1:47.47 (2019)

McFadden also ties Kyle Chalmers for No. 14 all-time among 17-year-olds of any nationality, according to USA Swimming’s database. 

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Hank
1 year ago

Is he stronger in long course? Taking out some big guns here.

Last edited 1 year ago by Hank
Nick
1 year ago

2023 Stanford got some amazing swimmer
insane!

Swimmyswammy
1 year ago

Talented kid- great team. Can’t wait to see what the Wahoos will do next.

Andrew
1 year ago

1:47 low at 17 years old is mind bendingly fast. Hopefully daddy mcfaddy makes an informed decision to join the Mustangs of SMU

dscott
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

Andrew – You’re not saying you want him to break a public commitment he has made to Stanford, are you?

jimmie boy
1 year ago

Daddy McFaddy

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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